Barlean’s Class Action Says Coconut Oil Is Dangerous Fat, Not Smart Fat

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A Barlean’s class action lawsuit claims that its coconut oil is promoted as being inherently healthy and an effective alternative to traditional cooking oils, while it actually contains a dangerous amount of saturated fat.

As alleged in the Barlean’s Coconut Oil class action, the product is labeled with claims of being able to boost “metabolism, supports the heart and immune system and provides quick energy.”

However, the Barlean’s Coconut Oil class action lawsuit points to studies that have drawn a connection with stroke and heart disease with the consumption of coconut oil based on its 90 percent saturated fat content.

The Barlean’s class action lawsuit also argues that consumers are willing to pay a premium price for products they believe to be a healthier alternative.

The consumers allege that the marketing and labeling statements used by the maker of this coconut oil create a “health halo” effect that encourages consumers to purchase the Barlean’s product.

As argued in the Barlean’s class action lawsuit, the misleading labels that promote health benefits on this product violate California, New York, and federal regulations.

According to the lead plaintiffs in the Barlean’s class action lawsuit, these labels have encouraged people to purchase the products based on unlawful claims. The lawsuit states that consumers were harmed as a direct result of buying this coconut oil.

The Barlean’s class action lawsuit says that the company has marketed and distributed their coconut oil products since at least May 2008 including their Organic Butter Flavored Coconut Oil, their Organic Culinary Coconut Oil, and their Organic Virgin Coconut Oil.

The consumers in the class action lawsuit against Barlean’s also argue that the use of the claim “raw whole food” on the label is misleading since coconut oil cannot be classified as a whole food.

Other claims named in the lawsuit as being misleading for consumers include statements like, “harvested at the peak of flavor and nutrition.”

“These claims taken individually and in context of the labeling as a whole are false and misleading because they suggest the Product is healthy due to its nutritional properties when in fact it is unhealthy and contains dangerous amounts of saturated fat, the consumption of which causes morbidity including heart disease and stroke,” the Barlean’s Coconut Oil class action lawsuit states.

The Barlean’s class action lawsuit seeks to represent a Class of New York and California consumers who purchased the coconut oil products.

The plaintiffs, in addition to equitable relief, want an order that compels Barlean’s to discontinue the marketing of their products with these unlawful and misleading tactics.

The defendant is also accused of purposefully omitting or intentionally distracting from the negative physiological impacts of the coconut oil product in an effort to boost sales.

The proposed Class is represented by Paul K. Joseph of The Law Office of Paul K. Joseph PC, Jack Fitzgerald, Trevor M. Flynn, and Melanie Persinger of The Law Office of Jack Fitzgerald PC.

The Barlean’s Coconut Oil Class Action Lawsuit is Michael Testone, et al. v. Barlean’s Organic Oils LLC, Case No. 3:19-cv-00169-JLS-BGS, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.