Consumers file false advertising class action lawsuits over fruit juice, preservatives in products

False advertising class action lawsuits overview: 

• Who: Consumers recently filed class action lawsuits involving false advertising claims against PepsiCo, Bolthouse Farms, Walmart, Wegmans Food Market and Target. 
• Why: Consumers claim the companies falsely advertise their canned fruit or fruit juice products have no preservatives and/or contain 100% juice. 
• Where: The class action lawsuits have been filed in New York, California and Florida federal courts. 

Consumers recently filed class action lawsuits involving claims of false advertising against companies that manufacture and/or sell canned fruit or fruit juice products. 

The consumers argue the companies falsely advertise their products have no preservatives and/or contain 100% juice.

A consumer may choose to file a false advertising complaint against a food manufacturer if they determine the company is being dishonest about the content of its products.

PepsiCo falsely advertises Ceres contains no preservatives, 100% juice, class action says

A consumer filed a class action lawsuit against PepsiCo in late September, arguing the company falsely advertises its Ceres juice drinks have no preservatives and contain 100% juice.

The consumer argues the Ceres juice drinks contain the artificial ingredient ascorbic acid, a type of artificial Vitamin C they claim acts as a preservative. 

“Defendant’s deceptive marketing campaign helped place the products on the front rows of the shelves of grocery stores throughout the country and online marketplaces,” the PepsiCo class action states. 

Bolthouse Farms class action alleges company falsely advertises juice products 

A pair of consumers filed a class action lawsuit against William Bolthouse Farms last month, arguing the company falsely advertises its juice products have no preservatives yet contain ascorbic acid.

Bolthouse Farms is accused of advertising its fruit juice and fruit juice smoothie drinks don’t contain preservatives so the company can exploit consumer demand for all-natural foods.  

“Although defendant identifies ascorbic acid as a source of Vitamin C, defendant adds it for its preservative qualities as well,” the Bolthouse Farms class action states. 

Walmart mixed fruit cups falsely advertised as containing 100% juice, lawsuit claims

A consumer filed a class action lawsuit against Walmart last month, arguing the company sells Great Value brand mixed fruit cups falsely advertised as containing 100% juice.

The consumer argues the Great Value mixed fruit cups contain water mixed with other additives, such as ascorbic acid and natural flavors.

“The representations that the mixed fruit is served ‘in 100% juice’ is false, deceptive and misleading,” the Walmart class action states. 

Wegmans class action alleges canned fruit falsely advertised as containing 100% juice

A consumer filed a class action lawsuit against Wegmans Food Market earlier this month over claims the supermarket chain sells canned fruit falsely advertised as containing 100% juice.

The consumer behind the complaint argues the fruit juice in Wegmans’ canned fruit product contains ascorbic acid despite being advertised as containing 100% juice. 

“Defendant’s deceptive marketing is further bolstered by the aura of healthiness created by its ‘Food You Feel Good About’ stamp on its products,” the Wegmans class action states. 

Target’s fruit cocktail products don’t contain 100% juice as advertised, lawsuit claims

A consumer filed a class action lawsuit against Target earlier this month, arguing it falsely labels its Market Pantry brand fruit cocktail products as containing 100% fruit juice. 

Target is accused of only revealing its Market Pantry brand fruit cocktail products contain water and additives, such as natural flavors and ascorbic acid, in fine print on the products’ ingredients list. 

“Consumers are misled to expect the mixed fruit would be contained within only 100% fruit juice, instead of water combined with additives of ‘natural flavor (and) ascorbic acid,’” the Target class action states.

Judge rules consumers could be misled by names of Starbucks Refresher beverages

A New York federal judge allowed portions of a Starbucks class action lawsuit filed in Aug. 2022 to move forward.

Starbucks is accused of falsely marketing some of its Refresher fruit-based beverages to make consumers believe they contain the fruit listed in their name. 

The consumer behind the complaint argues the Refresher drinks, including the Strawberry Acai Refresher and Pineapple Passionfruit Refresher, among others, are predominantly made with water, grape juice concentrate and sugar.

“Based on the Products’ advertising, reasonable consumers purchase the Products with the expectation that the Products contain all the fruits clearly listed in their respective names,” the Starbucks class action states. 

The judge determined the consumer behind the class action lawsuit reasonably showed the names of the Refresher beverages could mislead consumers. 

Have you been affected by a recent false advertising class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments. 

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