Splenda class action claims stevia product falsely labeled as 100% natural

Stevia 100% natural class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Plaintiff Mete Karabas filed a class action lawsuit against TC Heartland LLC. 
• Why: Karabas claims Heartland falsely labels that its Splenda Naturals Stevia Zero Calorie Sweetener product is “100% natural.” 
• Where: The Splenda class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court. 

Packaged food product company TC Heartland falsely labels its Splenda Naturals Stevia Zero Calorie Sweetener product as “100% natural,” a new Splenda class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Mete Karabas’ class action lawsuit claims the Splenda stevia product, in reality, contains the non-natural, synthetic ingredients stevia leaf extract and erythritol.

Karabas argues in the stevia 100% natural class action that Heartland falsely markets the stevia product as “100% natural” in an attempt to appeal to health-conscious consumers. 

“Heartland markets Splenda Naturals Stevia in this manner because it knows the claim is compelling to consumers, who are willing to pay more for all-natural products,” the stevia class action states. 

Karabas wants to represent a nationwide class and subclasses of New Jersey and New York residents who have purchased Splenda Naturals Stevia Zero Calorie Sweetener anytime within the past six years. 

Reasonable consumers expect stevia product to be ‘all-natural’ as labeled, Splenda class action claims

Karabas argues Heartland is aware the term “all natural” is “very meaningful” to consumers who shop for non-nutritive sweeteners. These customers, the stevia 100% natural class action argues, rely on companies to be honest about the ingredients in their products. 

“Reasonable consumers lack the meaningful ability to test or independently ascertain the truthfulness of foods labeled as ‘all’ or ‘100’ natural, especially at the point of sale,” the stevia class action states. 

Karabas claims Heartland is guilty of negligent and intentional misrepresentation, breach of express warranty and unjust enrichment, and in violation of the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act and New York General Business Law. 

The plaintiff demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of compensatory, statutory and punitive damages for himself and all class members. 

In a similar class action lawsuit from last month, a group of consumers claim The Hershey Co. misleadingly represents its Lily’s chocolate products as being primarily sweetened with stevia. 

Have you ever purchased Splenda Naturals Stevia Zero Calorie Sweetener? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Jack Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Monroe Flynn PC and Matthew Peterson of Consumer Law Advocate, PLLC. 

The Stevia 100% natural class action lawsuit is Karabas v. TC Heartland LLC, Case No. 1:24-cv-02722, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

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