Wheat Thins falsely advertised as 100% whole grain, class action claims

Wheat Thins class action overview: 

• Who: Two Wheat Thins consumers are suing Mondelez.
• Why: The plaintiffs claim the company deceptively markets its Wheat Thins as containing only whole grains.
• Where: The Wheat Thins class action was filed in an Illinois federal court.
• UPDATE 5/12/25: A settlement has been reached in a separate but similar case. See how you claim up to $20 from the Wheat Thins class action settlement!

Mondelez falsely markets its Wheat Thins crackers as being “100% Whole Grain” despite including refined grains in the product’s ingredients, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiffs Ivan Blanco and Kathryn Swiggum filed the class action complaint against Mondelez International Inc., Mondelez Global LLC and Nabisco Inc. on Dec. 23 in an Illinois federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws. 

According to the Wheat Thins whole grain lawsuit, the companies misled customers about the contents of the Wheat Thins crackers due to the presence of cornstarch in the product. 

Cornstarch is a refined grain, and is listed as a primary ingredient in Wheat Thins, the plaintiffs state. Unlike whole grains, refined grains lack essential components such as bran and germ, which provide key nutrients like fiber, vitamins and protein, the lawsuit argues. 

According to the plaintiffs, this contradicts the prominent “100% Whole Grain” claim displayed across Wheat Thins packaging and marketing materials.

“MDLZ’s representation that all (or 100%) of the grain ingredients in Wheat Thins are whole grains is patently false and utterly misleading,” the complaint says. 

The plaintiffs say this claim is a deliberate tactic to differentiate Wheat Thins in the competitive snack market and to justify higher prices.

Plaintiffs claim Mondelez capitalized on false perception of product

Mondelez has publicly acknowledged the benefits of whole grains, emphasizing their superior nutritional value compared to refined grains, the Wheat Thins whole grain lawsuit says.

It alleges that the company capitalized on this perception while knowingly including refined grains in the product. 

“If Plaintiffs and other consumers had known the representation was false, they would not have purchased MDLZ’s products or, alternatively, would have paid less for them,” the lawsuit claims.

The plaintiffs also cite guidance from the FDA and the Whole Grains Council to support their claims. FDA guidelines specify that products labeled as “100% whole grain” should exclusively contain whole grain ingredients, the plaintiffs say. 

As a result, the plaintiffs are looking to represent anyone in Illinois or Florida who bought Wheat Thins that were marketed as being “100% whole grain” between October 2018 and now. They are suing for violations of federal warranty and state consumer laws, and are seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

Meanwhile, in August, a New York woman slapped Mondelez with a class action lawsuit alleging it misled consumers into believing Nabisco Whole Grain Premium Saltine Crackers are predominantly made with whole grain flour when they are not.

What do you think of the allegations in this Wheat Thins class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments. 

The Wheat Thins whole grain plaintiffs are represented by Daniel J. Biederman Jr. at the Law Office of Danny Biederman LLC, and Dave Fox, Joanna Fox and Courtney Vasquez of Fox Law APC.

The Wheat Thins class action lawsuit is Ivan Blanco et al. v. Mondelez International Inc. et al., Case No. 1:24-cv-13193, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

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