Aldi class action claims retailer falsely advertises snack cup peaches

Aldi class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Nancy Bono filed a class action lawsuit against Aldi Inc.
• Why: The lawsuit alleges Aldi misrepresents its snack cup peaches product as containing 100% fruit juice when it actually contains additives and a substantial amount of water.
• Where: The Aldi peaches class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court.

Aldi Inc. misrepresents its snack cup peaches as containing 100% fruit juice when the product actually includes additives and a significant amount of water, a new class action lawsuit claims.

Plaintiff Nancy Bono says Aldi’s Yellow Cling Diced Peaches product includes prominent language indicating the peaches are in 100% fruit juice, but the ingredients list on the back shows water as the second ingredient listed after peaches.

“The amount of water is greater than any juice ingredient and more than the ‘100% fruit juice’ promoted on the front label,” the Aldi peaches class action lawsuit states.

The third and fourth ingredients listed are white grape juice concentrate and lemon juice concentrate, both of which also include water, according to the lawsuit. 

“Though water is a natural component of the peaches and 100% fruit juice emphasized on the front label, the added water is from none of these sources,” the class action lawsuit argues.

Unlike water, fruit juice contains nutrients like fiber, antioxidants and vitamins, the Aldi class action lawsuit explains. Water also lacks the taste of fruit. 

Consumers expect Aldi peaches to contain only fruit and juice, plaintiff says

Consumers purchasing the Aldi peaches expect the 100% fruit juice to be derived entirely from fruit, not from concentrate, the lawsuit says. 

The process of making juice concentrate causes the fruit juice to lose its volume, natural fruit flavors, fiber and other nutrients yet keeps the sugar content and calories, the Aldi class action lawsuit alleges. Therefore, fruit concentrate is essentially an added sugar that does not contain any flavor or health benefits of actual fruit juice.

The Aldi peaches also contain ascorbic acid and citric acid as preservatives, but the lawsuit claims neither of these ingredients is from peaches or 100% fruit juice. Further, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires companies to describe the function of chemical additives so consumers can make informed choices, which Aldi allegedly does not do.

Consumers increasingly seek products free of additives and those described as “100%” because it suggests the food consists only of the ingredient they want without anything else added, according to the Aldi class action lawsuit.

The Aldi peaches labeling is misleading because consumers expect the product to include only peaches and peach juice, the lawsuit alleges. Instead, the product includes less valuable ingredients such as water, fruit juice concentrate and chemical additives. 

Bono says she paid more for the Aldi peaches than she would have paid if not for the alleged misrepresentations.

Del Monte was recently hit with a similar class action lawsuit alleging it falsely advertised its diced peaches as containing 100% juice even though the product contains artificial ingredients and preservatives.

Have you purchased Aldi peaches in 100% fruit juice? Let us know what you think of this Aldi class action lawsuit in the comments.

Bono is represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC.

The Aldi peaches class action lawsuit is Nancy Bono v. Aldi Inc., Case No. 2:24-cv-03026, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Central Islip.

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