Second Walmart class action claims avocado oil contains other many other oils

Walmart avocado oil class action overview: 

• Who: A Florida woman, plaintiff Shana Denny, has filed a class action lawsuit against Walmart.
• Why: The plaintiff alleges Walmart markets its Great Value brand avocado oil with misleading labels.
• Where: The Walmart avocado oil class action was filed in a Florida federal court.

A new class action alleges that Walmart sells Great Value brand avocado oil that is “impure” due to the fact it contains other, cheaper oils.

Plaintiff Shana Denny filed the class action complaint against Walmart Inc. on Oct. 23 in a Florida federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

According to the Walmart class action lawsuit, the retail giant misled consumers by falsely labeling its “Great Value” avocado oil as pure. Dennt says Walmart’s avocado oil product, which features avocados prominently on its label and lists avocado oil as the only ingredient, was found through testing to contain a blend of other, cheaper oils.

Denny says she bought the oil for personal use from a Walmart store for $14.99, believing it to be exclusively avocado oil due to Walmart’s branding.

She claims that she would not have bought the product had she known it was not pure avocado oil. 

Growing demand for avocado oil leads to surging prices, lawsuit says

Avocado oil has surged in popularity in recent years due to its health benefits and versatility in cooking, leading consumers to pay a premium for what they believe to be a superior product, Denny argues in the lawsuit.

Avocado oil is rich in oleic acid, antioxidants, and has a high smoke point, making it particularly sought after for high-heat cooking, she says; as a result, it often costs significantly more than other cooking oils like canola or soybean oil.

The Walmart class action alleges that, despite Walmart’s labeling that suggests the product is exclusively avocado oil, scientific testing conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis, found the oil to be adulterated. A recent study cited in the complaint indicates that up to 70% of avocado oil on the market may be impure — either rancid or mixed with other oils — contributing to a consumer trust issue.

Denny claims that Walmart’s mislabeling not only deceived consumers but also allowed the company to charge higher prices. If the product were accurately labeled, Denny claims, it would have sold for less.

As a result, Denny is looking to represent anyone in the United States who bought the oil. She is suing for violations of Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act and is seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

Walmart was hit with a similar class action lawsuit in California in September, alleging that it sells impure avocado oil under the “Great Value” brand.

What do you think of the allegations in this Walmart avocado oil class action? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by William Wright and Kelly Mata of The Wright Law Office.

The Walmart class action is Shana Denny v. Walmart Inc., Case No. 6:24-cv-01906 in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.

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