Orgain Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk Is Allegedly Mislabeled

Orgain Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk is mislabeled as vanilla despite using artificial flavorings, according to a recent class action lawsuit.

According to plaintiff Ethel Darnell, Orgain almond milk is marketed as “vanilla,” inducing consumers into believing that the products are made with real vanilla beans. However, despite Orgain touting their “Commitment to Clean Nutrition,” the company allegedly fails to truthfully disclose the contents of their product.

“Unfortunately for consumers, the Product’s taste comes from artificial flavors instead of vanilla beans, such that the taste is dissimilar to what consumers expect from products labeled as ‘vanilla,’” the Orgain Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk class action lawsuit contends.

Instead of being flavored with real vanilla flavoring from vanilla beans or other parts of the vanilla plant, Orgain Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk is allegedly flavored with non-vanilla ingredients. Specifically, the product’s ingredient list includes “organic natural flavors” and “natural flavors” instead of any vanilla-bean ingredient.

Upon further analysis, Darnell allegedly learned that the product has an “abnormal excess” of vanillin – the fake vanilla ingredient. Unlike vanilla extracts, vanillin is not derived from real vanilla beans. Instead, this synthetic ingredient is reportedly derived from various chemicals. Despite using fake vanilla, Orgain Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk packaging allegedly fails to disclose this artificial flavoring.

According to Darnell, Orgain’s alleged mislabeling of their almond milk violates regulations from both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and California regulators. These authorities reportedly require artificial flavors to be disclosed on product packaging.

For example, Darnell argues that the Orgain Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk should be labeled as “with Natural and Artificial Flavors” or “with Organic Natural Flavors, Artificial Flavors.” Even though the product’s ingredient list specifies “natural flavors,” Darnell claims that vanillin is an artificial flavor and therefore must be disclosed as such.

Darnell notes that consumers such as herself rely on product packaging when making purchasing decisions. Due to Orgain’s alleged mislabeling, Darnell and other consumers were allegedly deceived into purchasing the product or paying a higher price. Without this mislabeling, Darnell says she would have not purchased Orgain Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk or would have paid significantly less for the product.

“Instead of receiving the benefit of a product free of artificial flavoring and flavored mainly by vanilla, Plaintiff received a Product that was unlawfully labeled to deceive consumers into believing that it was naturally vanilla flavored and contained no artificial flavoring, in violation of federal and state labeling regulations,” the Orgain almond milk class action lawsuit maintains.

Darnell seeks to represent a Class of consumers who purchased Orgain Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk in California and/or Oregon since Dec. 3, 2014.

Did you purchase Orgain Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk? Share your experiences in the comment section below.

Darnell and the proposed Class are represented by Jonathan Shub and Kevin Laukaitis of Shub Law Firm LLC; Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC; and Alex Straus of Greg Coleman Law PC.

The Orgain Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk Class Action Lawsuit is Ethel Darnell v. Orgain Management Inc., Case No. 4:21-cv-00015-DMR, in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California.

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