November 2018: This action was dismissed because the parties reached a settlement agreement, the terms of which have not been disclosed.

January 2018: This case was reopened after the appeals in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals were resolved. (The Jones and Kosta appeals were voluntarily dismissed and the Brazil case was remanded for further proceedings.)

April 2016: A federal judge stayed this action pending the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals resolution in three similar cases (Brazil v. Dole Food Company, Inc., Jones v. ConAgra Foods, Inc., Kosta v. Del Monte Foods, Inc.).

September 2015: A federal judge dismissed some of the claims in the April 2014 complaint, including the evaporated cane juice claims, finding that the problems with them (including that plaintiffs did not adequately plead that their reliance on the marketing was reasonable) were not fixed in the amended complaint. The claims were dismissed without leave to amend, meaning that the claims cannot be refiled. The allegation that Whole Foods Market misleadingly labels products as “all natural” when they actually contain unnatural ingredients will move forward, however.

April 2014: After a federal judge dismissed plaintiffs’ claims regarding evaporated cane juice and unjust enrichment, plaintiffs filed an amended complaint against Whole Foods Market for allegedly misbranding products. Specifically, the complaint alleges that the company misleadingly labels products – including 365 Everyday Value Tomato Ketchup, 365 Everyday Value Organic Chicken Broth, and 365 Everyday Value Apple Cinnamon Instant Oatmeal – as containing “evaporated cane juice” when they actually contain sugar. In addition, plaintiffs claim that the company misleadingly labels products – including 365 Everyday Value Cola and Natural Italian Soda in green apple flavor – as “all natural” when they actually contain artificial ingredients, flavorings, coloring, and chemical preservatives. (Pratt et al v. Whole Foods Market California, Inc.; Mrs Gooch’s Natural Foods Market, Inc.; WFM-WO, Inc.; and WFM Private Label, L.P., Case No. 12-cv-05652, N. D. CA.).

For more information about other class-action lawsuits filed against Whole Foods Market and TINA.org’s coverage of the company, click here.

 


Class-Action Tracker

Amazon Prime Grocery Deliveries from Whole Foods

Class Action

Amazon Prime Grocery Deliveries from Whole Foods

Allegations: Falsely marketing that Amazon Prime members receive free 2-hour delivery of groceries when Amazon charges consumers a $9.95 service fee for grocery deliveries from Whole Foods Market

365 Everyday Value Organic Vanilla Coconutmilk

Class Action

365 Everyday Value Organic Vanilla Coconutmilk

In July 2020, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Whole Foods Market Group for allegedly misleadingly marketing 365 Everyday Value Organic Unsweetened Coconut Vanilla Coconutmilk Beverage as containing “vanilla” when,…

Organic 365 Rice Milk

Class Action

Organic 365 Rice Milk

In February 2020, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Whole Foods Market Group for allegedly misleadingly marketing that the flavor in its Organic 365 Rice Milk comes exclusively from vanilla…

365 Everyday Value Vanilla Soymilk

Class Action

365 Everyday Value Vanilla Soymilk

In October 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Whole Foods Market for allegedly misleadingly marketing that its 365 Everyday Value Vanilla Soymilk contains vanilla when, according to plaintiffs, the…

365 Organic Vanilla Almondmilk

Class Action

365 Organic Vanilla Almondmilk

In October 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Whole Foods Market Group for allegedly misleadingly advertising its 365 Organic Vanilla Almondmilk as containing vanilla when, according to plaintiffs, the…

Starkey Water

Class Action

Starkey Water

In August 2019, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Whole Foods Market for allegedly deceptively advertising that its Starkey Water is pure and clean when, according to plaintiffs, the water…

Whole Foods Hypoallergenic Claims

Class Action

Whole Foods Hypoallergenic Claims

March 2019: The claims against defendant WFM Distribution were dismissed. June 2018: A federal judge dismissed When a complaint is dismissed without prejudice, an amended version of the complaint can…

The Weight of Whole Foods Products

Class Action

The Weight of Whole Foods Products

November 2017: Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint similarly alleging that Whole Foods overstates the weight of products and, as a result, overcharges customers. June 2017: The Second Circuit Court of…

The Weight of Whole Foods Pre-Packaged Foods

Class Action

The Weight of Whole Foods Pre-Packaged Foods

November 2017: Plaintiffs filed an amended complaint similarly alleging that Whole Foods overstates the weight of products and, as a result, overcharges customers. June 2017: The Second Circuit Court of…

GT’s Kombucha Beverages

Class Action

GT’s Kombucha Beverages

January 2018: The Ference appeal was voluntarily dismissed, the reasons for which have not been disclosed. November 2017: The Sweeney appeal was dismissed for failure to prosecute because the objector…

The Amount of Vitamin B in Whole Foods Supplements

Class Action

The Amount of Vitamin B in Whole Foods Supplements

In January 2018, a false advertising class-action lawsuit was filed against Whole Foods for allegedly misrepresenting the amount of vitamin B in its 365 Everyday Value brand supplements, Liquid Energy…

Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Products

Class Action

Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value Products

October 2014: This action was voluntarily dismissed When a complaint is dismissed without prejudice, an amended version of the complaint can be refiled., the reasons for which have not been…

Whole Foods St. John’s Wort Dietary Supplement

Class Action

Whole Foods St. John’s Wort Dietary Supplement

In January 2017, a class-action lawsuit was filed against Whole Foods alleging that its St. John’s Wort dietary supplement did not contain the amount of standardized extract hypericin (the sole…

Whole Foods Meat Products

Class Action

Whole Foods Meat Products

April 2016: A federal judge dismissed the complaint When a complaint is dismissed with prejudice, it cannot be refiled.. Among other things, the judge found that the complaint fails to…

Whole Foods Market Products

Class Action

Whole Foods Market Products

June 2016: This lawsuit was dismissed because the parties reached a settlement, the terms of which are confidential. November 2013: A class-action lawsuit was filed against Whole Foods Market, Inc.…

Whole Foods Prices

Class Action

Whole Foods Prices

January 2016: A federal judge dismissed this lawsuit after the parties reached a settlement agreement, the terms of which have not yet been disclosed. October 2015: This lawsuit was transferred…


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