General Mills Class Action Claims Gardetto’s Garlic Rye Chips Contain Minimal Rye Flour

Top Class Actions’s website and social media posts use affiliate links. If you make a purchase using such links, we may receive a commission, but it will not result in any additional charges to you. Please review our Affiliate Link Disclosure for more information.

General Mills Class Action Lawsuit Overview:

• Who: An Illinois resident has filed a class action lawsuit against General Mills.
• Why: The General Mills class action alleges Gardetto’s Garlic Rye Chips are misrepresented as containing predominantly rye flour.
• Where: The lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court.

General Mills Sales Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit alleging it misrepresents Gardetto’s Garlic Rye Chips as containing predominantly rye flour when their top ingredient is actually enriched flour.

Plaintiff Rebecca Melvan says she purchased Gardetto’s Garlic Rye Chips and expected that they would contain predominantly rye flour, which is less processed than non-whole grain flour.

Melvan notes that a growing number of consumers prefer whole grains, which she says are “nutritionally superior” to non-whole grains because they contain the entire grain kernel or seed. 

The grain’s bran and germ include a variety of nutrients, such as fiber, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The bran also has a distinctive dark brown coloring that is associated with whole grains.

“In contrast, ‘non-whole grains’ or ‘refined grains’ have been processed to remove the bran and germ, thereby removing the fiber and most other nutrients,” the General Mills class action lawsuit alleges. 

When a flour is enriched, it includes some added vitamins and nutrients. However, many nutrients, including fiber, are not added back, the lawsuit claims.

Consumers Seek Out Foods with Whole Grains, According To General Mills Class Action

More than 90% of consumers say that they try to consume more fiber, and 62% agree that foods made from whole grains are an excellent source of fiber, the General Mills class action lawsuit notes.

The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has cautioned companies about misleading consumers about the whole grain content of food, noting that consumers who believe a food product is “whole grain” expect all of the grains in the product to be whole grain.

The FDA has taken issue with companies that use small amounts of dark flour and caramel coloring to give the impression that a product is whole grain.

The General Mills class action lawsuit points out that the ingredients list includes enriched flour as the first ingredient ahead of rye flour.

“Even though enriched flour is listed ahead of rye flour, consumers who review the ingredients will not know what percent of the Product’s grains are refined compared to whole grains,” Melvan alleges.

Melvan says that reasonable customers rely on companies to accurately describe a product. She says General Mills sold more of the Gardetto’s Garlic Rye Chips at a higher price than it would have without the alleged misrepresentation.

General Mills is also facing a class action lawsuit alleging it deceptively markets Gushers fruit-flavored snacks as containing only natural fruit flavoring even though they contain artificial ingredients.

Have you purchased Gardetto’s Garlic Rye Chips? Let us know what you think about the allegations that General Mills misrepresents the chips as containing predominantly rye flour!

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

The General Mills Class Action Lawsuit is Rebecca Melvan v. General Mills Sales Inc., Case No. 1:22-cv-02114, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• “Hippie Organics” French Beans Sold at Whole Foods Recalled Due To Potential Listeria Contamination
• If Abortion Laws Change This Year, Millions of Americans Will Be Financially Harmed, Experts Say
• TCA Explains: What Are Arbitration Agreements And How Do They Affect Class Action Lawsuits?
• UK Braces for Worse as War in Ukraine Exacerbates Growing Oil and Gas Price Crises