Del Monte class action claims diced peaches falsely advertised with ‘100% juice’

Del Monte class action overview: 

• Who: Plaintiff Donna Baird filed a class action lawsuit against Del Monte Foods.
• Why: Her lawsuit claims Del Monte’s diced peaches “in 100% juice” actually contain artificial ingredients and added water.
• Where: The Del Monte diced peaches lawsuit was filed in federal court in Brooklyn, New York.

Del Monte advertises its diced peaches as being with “100% juice,” but the product includes artificial ingredients and preservatives, according to a Del Monte new class action lawsuit.

The Del Monte diced peaches ingredient list includes ascorbic acid, a preservative that is not natural. The list also shows water added to juice concentrate is a primary ingredient in the Del Monte 100% juice, coming in a larger concentration than it naturally occurs.

“One purpose of this significant amount of added water is to reduce the amount of peaches and 100 percent juice consumers receive, because water costs less than peaches and juice,” the Del Monte diced peaches class action says.

Del Monte diced peaches juice concentrate lacks vitamin C, natural flavor, fiber, class action says

When fruit goes from its natural state to concentrate, it loses much of its water along with losing volume, fiber, natural fruit flavor, and crucial vitamin C, but keeping its sugar and calories, according to Caroline West Passerrello, a registered dietitian nutritionist quoted by the lawsuit.

Vitamin C is lost as the juice is turned into concentrate and some is added back in through ascorbic acid, the class action says. While it is also naturally occurring, ascorbic acid is a recognized preservative that can slow the deterioration of food. 

“Ascorbic acid is used in the Product to make it seem as if it contains more fruit and 100% juice than it does, by providing a fruity and tangy taste,” the Del Monte class action says.

The diced peaches with 100% juice are thus mislabeled and misbranded because they don’t include just natural juice but instead added water, ascorbic acid and other ingredients to make the product appear natural when it is not.

Del Monte is also facing another similar class action lawsuit claiming the company falsely advertises its Del Monte fruit bowls and canned fruits as having 100% juice when the products actually include artificial ingredients.

Have you purchased Del Monte diced peached in 100% juice? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan and Associates PC.

The Del Monte class action lawsuit is Baird v. Del Monte Foods Inc., Case No. 1:24-cv-02129, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, Brooklyn Courthouse.

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