Walmart class action alleges Great Value apple juice fails to disclose chemical preservatives

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Walmart class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Sal Rivera filed a lawsuit against Walmart Inc.
• Why: Walmart’s Great Value apple juice allegedly does not disclose that it includes chemical preservatives.
• Where: The Great Value apple juice class action lawsuit was filed in Florida federal court.

Walmart Inc. sells Great Value apple juice but fails to disclose that the juice contains chemical preservatives, a class action lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiff Sal Rivera says he purchased Great Value apple juice because he believed it did not contain preservatives. He seeks to purchase beverages without chemical preservatives because he believes they are potentially harmful to consumers, according to the Walmart class action lawsuit.

Preservatives are ingredients that can prevent or slow the deterioration of foods and beverages. Natural preservatives include salt, sugar, vinegar, and spices while artificial preservatives include ascorbic acid, citric acid, benzoate of soda, salicylic acid, and sulfur dioxide, Rivera explains.

Rivera says that consumers value foods that are free of chemical preservatives. In response to this growing demand, federal laws requiring disclosure of chemical preservatives were implemented.

The Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act states that a product’s ingredient list should include the common name of an ingredient and a separate description of its function.

“These rules were adopted by every state so all consumers could make informed decisions about the foods they buy,” according to the Walmart class action lawsuit. 

Great Value apple juice ingredients list does not disclose chemical preservatives, plaintiff says

The Great Value apple juice ingredients list includes ascorbic acid, which is a chemically modified form of vitamin C that is used as a preservative. 

The ingredients list reportedly says “ascorbic acid (vitamin C)” but does not disclose that the ascorbic acid is used as a preservative, acidulant, chelating agent, buffering agent, microbial agent, antioxidant, and to prevent discoloration, the plaintiff notes.

Rivera claims he would not have purchased Great Value apple juice, or would have paid less for it, if he had known it contained chemical preservatives.

The Walmart class action lawsuit asserts claims for violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, various state consumer fraud acts, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation, fraud, and unjust enrichment.

Walmart was recently hit with a class action lawsuit alleging it failed to provide some of its workers in New York with weekly uniform maintenance pay.

Do you think Walmart misleads consumers about chemical preservatives in Great Value apple juice? Let us know in the comments!

Rivera is represented by Alexander J. Korolinsky of AJK Legal and Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC.

The Great Value apple juice class action lawsuit is Sal Rivera v. Walmart Inc., Case No. 8:23-cv-00618, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division.

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