TGI Fridays Class Action Says ‘Potato Skins’ are Falsely Advertised

TGI Fridays faces a class action lawsuit alleging the restaurant chain and food company falsely advertises their so-called “Potato Skins” chips as being made from actual potato skins.

Lead plaintiff Solange Troncoso says she paid $1.99 for a bag of TGI Fridays Sour Cream & Onion Potato Skins chips from a convenience store.

The TGI Fridays class action claims Troncoso purchased the snack because she believed it was made from real potato skins and would be healthier than similar potato-based snacks.

Troncoso alleges that the snack actually contains oil, potato starch, potato flakes, corn and salt, but no actual potato skins.

“Defendant’s ‘Potato Skins’ representations are deceptive because the snack products do not actually contain any potato skins,” alleges the TGI Fridays class action. “This labeling deceives consumers into believing that they are receiving a healthier snack, but Defendant’s products do not live up to these claims.”

TGI Fridays runs a food production company, selling versions of the dishes it also presents in its nationwide chain of restaurants.

According to the TGI Fridays class action lawsuit, the following products are misrepresented:

• TGI Fridays Potato Skins, Cheddar & Bacon
• TGI Fridays Potato Skins, Bacon Ranch
• TGI Fridays Potato Skins, Sour Cream & Onion

“Conscious of consumers’ increased interest in more nutritious snacks and willingness to pay more for products perceived to meet this preference, defendant misleadingly, illegally, and deceptively seeks to capitalize on these consumer health trends,” contends the TGI Fridays class action lawsuit.

Potato skins are associated with health and nutrition, including vitamin B-6, vitamin C, thiamin, niacin, iron, potassium, magnesium, and fiber, according to the plaintiff.

“Potato skins became more prominent in American cuisine after they were served by several restaurants as appetizers in the mid-sixties and seventies,” notes the TGI Fridays class action lawsuit. “Richard Melmen, one of the progenitors of the inclusion of potato skins as food, claims that he began serving potato skins after hearing a radio story about sailors eating them for much-needed vitamins.”

TGI Fridays packaged Potato Skins chips do not contain real potato skins, alleges the plaintiff, and lack the health benefits.

Instead, TGI Fridays allegedly includes a much less nutritious product made from potato flakes and starch.

Potato skins are not incorporated into the potatoes once they are removed during processing into these two products, alleges the TGI Fridays class action lawsuit.

According to the class action lawsuit, TGI Fridays deceptive marketing of its Potato Skins chip products violates consumer protection laws across the nation.

In addition, federal law and U.S. Food and Drug Administration rules prohibit the misbranding of food in this way, argues the plaintiff.

Troncoso seeks to represent a nationwide Class of consumers who purchased a TGI Fridays Potato Skins product, along with a New York subclass.

The plaintiff and proposed Class are represented by C.K. Lee and Anne Seelig of the Lee Litigation Group PLLC.

The TGI Fridays Potato Skin Chips Class Action Lawsuit is Troncoso v. TGI Friday’s Inc., Case No. 1:19­-cv­-02735, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.