Nestlé Coffee Creamer Contains Fake Vanilla, Class Action Claims

Nestlé’s Natural Bliss line of coffee creamers aren’t actually flavored with natural vanilla, consumers are arguing. 

Plaintiff Elizabeth Suriano claims Natural Bliss, a non-dairy alternative made from oat flour, is flavored with petrochemicals and created through an artificial process, according to a new class action lawsuit filed Monday in Illinois District Court.

Nestlé produces, distributes, labels and sells Natural Bliss non-dairy coffee creamer under the Coffee Mate brand. The product features language touting “natural flavor” and “all natural” with images of vanilla beans.

Suriano says bottles of Natural Bliss creamer give no indication the product is made from artificial flavoring.

“These representations tell consumers the Product’s vanilla taste is only from natural flavors, including vanilla, even though it contains artificial flavor,” the class action alleges. 

Suriano argues Illinois laws require Nestlé to inform shoppers Coffee Mate Natural Bliss creamer is made from vanillin, a synthetic version of the authentic vanilla bean.  

The Illinois Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act mandates statements on products made from artificial sources, according to the class action lawsuit. 

Federal regulators have rules on vanilla use, too. The Food and Drug Administration requires flavoring that doesn’t come from vanilla beans to be labeled as artificially flavored, the lawsuit contends, pointing to the ingredient list on the creamer describing the vanillin as “natural flavor.” 

Suriano goes on to explain the complexities of true vanilla. Real vanilla comes from an orchid plant native to Mexico. Vanilla extracts are made by soaking the sun-dried bean pods. 

“Vanilla’s unique flavor is due to the hundreds of odor-active compounds besides vanillin, such as acids, ethers, alcohols, acetals, heterocyclics, phenolics, hydrocarbons, esters and carbonyls,” the class action stated.

Its artificial version, vanillin, on the other hand, has a different process. This fake vanilla flavoring begins with three main ingredients: petroleum, tree pulp and ferulic acid.

Suriano argues using synthetic vanillin and marketing it as natural is “false, misleading and deceptive.” 

This is especially true in light of current food trends that have consumers buying authentic and minimally processed products, Suriano says. She asserts demand for authentic vanilla has been rising with this trend. 

Formally the class action lawsuit is accusing Nestlé of violating Illinois’ Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, breaches of warranty, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and unjust enrichment. 

Suriano is seeking monetary and statutory damages, and is looking to represent a Class of consumers who have purchased the product and reside in Illinois, Iowa or Kansas.

This class action is one in a string of many suits filed regarding fake vanilla being used as an ingredient. Last week, a Rhode Island man filed a class action lawsuit against Starbucks claiming that he and other consumers were duped into purchasing vanilla frappuccinos made with fake flavoring instead of real vanilla.

Do you buy Coffee Mate Natural Bliss non-dairy creamer expecting it to be flavored with authentic vanilla? Let us know in the comments below. 

Counsel representing the plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit is Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates, P.C. 

The Nestle Fake Vanilla Creamer Class Action Lawsuit is Suriano, et al. v. Nestlé USA, Inc., Case No. 1:21-cv-00717 in the United States District Court for the Northern District Of Illinois, Northern Division.

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