Trader Joe’s Class Action Says Sugar Disguised In Oatmeal

A new Trader Joe’s class action lawsuit alleges that the company deceives consumers by calling sugar “organic dehydrated cane juice solids” in its instant oatmeal products.

According to plaintiff Nora Chau, Trader Joe’s touts the so-called healthy attributes of its Organic Oats & Flax Instant Oatmeal, including that it is low in fat and sodium, a source of whole grains, and organic.

However, the product, which come in a box of eight individually packaged portions, does not openly disclose that it contains sugar, says the plaintiff.

According to the Trader Joe’s class action lawsuit, the “Product is Misleading because Sugar is Disguised as ‘Organic Dehydrated Cane Juice Solids.’ Consumers expect a product’s ingredients to be declared by their common or usual name.”

Chau says that by using the word “juice” manipulates consumers into thinking the product contains something that starts as a fruit or vegetable.

However, the dehydrated cane juice included in the ingredients list on Trader Joe’s oatmeal does not refer to fruit or vegetable juice. In fact, “’dehydrated cane juice’ – whether followed by ‘solids’ or not – is another name for sugar,” states the complaint.

“Plaintiff and consumers are paying more attention to the ingredients in the foods they eat and are shunning excess sugars due to their association with and contribution to ailments and conditions like coronary heart disease, obesity and diabetes,” points out the Trader Joe’s class action lawsuit.

Further, the placement of the so-called “dehydrated cane juice” on the ingredient list of the “Oats & Fax” oatmeal reveals that there is actually more sugar in the product than flax, alleges the complaint.

The plaintiff accuses Trader Joe’s of intentionally misleading consumers into thinking that their product is a better nutritional choice than competing products.

Additionally, Trader Joe’s has a reputation for selling health food products, allegedly further duping consumers into thinking they are getting a healthier product.

Chau says that she and others consumers would not have purchased or paid as much for Trader Joe’s Organic Oats & Flax Oatmeal if the ingredient list had used the term sugar, rather than dehydrated cane juice solids.

“The misleading terms used on the Products have a material bearing on price or consumer acceptance of the Products because they will pay more for products with the positive qualities associated with (1) actual fruit juice, including naturally occurring vitamins and minerals and (2) less sugar,” contends the Trader Joe’s class action lawsuit.

The plaintiff seeks to represent a nationwide Class of consumers who purchased Trader Joe’s Organic Oats & Flax Oatmeal.

The complaint accuses the grocer of violating New York General Business Law and consumer protection laws in all other states, along with negligent misrepresentation, breach of warranty, and unjust enrichment.

The Trader Joe’s class action lawsuit is seeking damages as well as a court order stopping the alleged misleading marketing of the oatmeal.

Did you purchase Trader Joe’s Organic Oats & Flax Oatmeal? Tell us more in the comments below!

The plaintiff is represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC and by Peter Wasylyk of Law Offices of Peter N. Wasylyk.

The Trader Joe’s Oatmeal Class Action Lawsuit is Nora Chau v. Trader Joe’s East Inc., Case No. 1:19-cv-06596, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

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