Mazola Canola Oil class action alleges product not ‘100% pure’ as advertised

Mazola Canola Oil class action overview: 

• Who: Two consumers sued ACH Food Companies, Inc. over its Mazola Canola Oil. 
• Why: The consumers say the product is falsely advertised as being 100% pure because it contains hexane.
• Where: The case was filed in New York federal court.

Mazola Canola Oil is falsely advertised as being “100% pure” when the product actually contains hexane, which consumers are not aware of, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiffs Caridad Heredia and Sherise Richardson filed the class action lawsuit against ACH Food Companies, Inc. June 24 in a New York federal court alleging violations of state and federal consumer protection laws. 

The plaintiffs say the product packaging prominently states that Mazola is “100% pure.”

“Contrary to Defendant’s representation, however, testing has shown that Mazola contains hexane,” the Mazola Canola Oil class action states. “Independent laboratory testing has detected .79 micrograms of hexane per gram of the Product.”

The lawsuit states that the presence of hexane is a “telltale sign” that Mazola was produced by extracting canola oil from rapeseed using chemical solvents.

Mazola Canola Oil class action alleges hexane presence means product not ‘100% pure’

According to the Mazola Canola Oil class action, canola oil can also be produced by using a machine known as an “expeller press” to physically squeeze canola oil out of rapeseed. This product is more time-consuming and expensive.. 

“Such a product does not contain hexane or any other solvents and would appropriately be labeled as ‘100% Pure,'” the lawsuit states. 

As such, a reasonable consumer would expect “100% pure” to indicate the product has no hexane, it says.

The plaintiffs allege that ACH Food Companies was well aware that the product contains hexane, and that consumers would not be aware of it, and nevertheless “intentionally” manufactures and sells it as being pure. 

The plaintiffs are suing for breach of express warranty and violations of New York consumer protection laws. They’re seeking to represent anyone in the United States who bought the product, plus a New York subclass.They’re also seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs, an injunction and a jury trial. 

Last year, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals overturned a proposed settlement reached in a class action lawsuit involving claims that the marketing, advertising and sale of Wesson brand cooking oils as “100% Natural” was unlawful.

Did you know that some ‘100% pure’ canola oil contains hexane? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiffs are represented by Yitzchak Kopel of Bursor & Fisher, P.A., and Craig A. Eaton of Eaton & Torrenzano, LLP. 

The Mazola Canola Oil class action lawsuit is Caridad Heredia et al., v. ACH Food Companies, Inc, Case 7:22-cv-05366, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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