Pure Via Stevia Class Action Settlement Checks Set to Go Out in November

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Customers who claim they were deceived into thinking that Pure Via Stevia sweetener was a natural sweetener should start receiving settlement checks in November.

Checks will be sent out from the Pure Via class action settlement on Nov. 21, according to the settlement website.

Pure Via makers Merisant Company and Whole Earth Sweetener Company, LLC were hit with the Pure Via false advertising class action lawsuit in January 2014 in a California federal court, alleging that the companies marketed the Pure Via Stevia All Natural Zero Calorie Sweetener as being primarily derived from the stevia plant.

However, plaintiff Angel Aguiar claimed in the Pure Via class action lawsuit that the top ingredient in Pure Via is actually synthetic dextrose. It also includes a stevia-derived ingredient called ‘Reb A,’ which only makes up about five percent of the sweetener. In addition, the plaintiff explains that Reb A is also highly processed.

Merisant and Whole Earth used phrases such as “made from ingredients found in nature” and “the all natural way to keep calories low,” which Aguiar says led customers into believing that Pure Via was a natural sweetener. By doing so, the sweetener was made more appealing to customers, which helped with the sales of the product, the class action lawsuit said.

Aguiar charged Pure Via makers with unjust enrichment, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, violating consumer fraud laws in various states, violating several California business codes, and violating California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act.

The $1.65 million Pure Via class action settlement was reached in July 2014, in which Class Members can receive anywhere from $5 to $30 in reimbursements for purchasing the sweetener, depending on how much they claim they bought.

No proof of purchase was required to participate in this class action settlement. It is for Pure Via customers, who purchased the sweetener from Jan. 1, 2008 through Oct.  6, 2014.

The deadline for filing a claim to benefit from the Pure Via class action settlement was on Feb. 10.

Merisant and Whole Earth do not admit to any wrongdoing but agreed to settle this class action lawsuit to avoid the costs and risks of going to trial.

More information about the status of the Pure Via refunds can be found at www.PureViaSweetenerSettlement.com.

The class is represented by Joseph P. Guglielmo Amanda F. Lawrence of Scott + Scott Attorneys at Law LLP and by E. Kirk Wood of Wood Law Firm LLC.

The Pure Via Deceptive Labeling Class Action Lawsuit is Angel Aguiar v. Merisant Company, et al., Case No. 2:14-cv-00670-RGK-AGR, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.