Beanfields Class Action Says ‘All Natural’ Chips Are Falsely Advertised

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A proposed class action lawsuit claims the maker of Beanfields chips falsely advertises its snack products as “all natural” when they in fact contain multiple synthetic ingredients.

Plantiff Kevin LaPlatney accuses Beanfields of deceptive and misleading business practices with respect to the marketing and sales of Beanfields Nacho Bean and Rice Chips, Beanfields Barbeque Bean and Rice Chips, Beanfields Ranch Bean and Rice Chips and Beanfields Pico de Gallo Bean and Rice Chips.

He states that despite Beanfields’ marketing of these products as being “all natural,” they actually contain a number of synthetic ingredients including tapioca maltodextrin, lactic acid, citric acid, and malic acid.

According to the Beanfields class action lawsuit, maltodextrin is recognized as a synthetic ingredient by federal regulators and is primarily used as a carrier or bulking agent.

Lactic acid is a federally-listed synthetic substance that is added to foods as a flavorant, acidity regulator, and preservative. Additionally, citric acid and malic acid do not occur naturally, the lawsuit states.

LaPlatney says that he and other consumers relied on Beanfields’ misrepresentation that the products are “all natural” when purchasing the chips.

The proposed class action lawsuit asserts that LaPlatney and other Class Members paid a premium for the products “over and above comparable products that did not purport to be ‘All Natural’,” and therefore suffered injury in the amount of the premium paid.

Additionally, LaPlatney contends that Beanfields’ conduct violates New York Business Laws, the consumer protection statutes of all 50 states, and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act by unjustly capitalizing on consumers’ desires for purportedly “natural products.”

The plaintiff claims that by failing to disclose that maltodextrin, lactic acid, citric acid, and malic acid are synthetic ingredients, a reasonable consumer would be under the false impression that Beanfields’ products only contain “natural” ingredients, as falsely advertised on their product packaging.

“Defendant’s deceptive representations and omissions are material in that a reasonable person would attach importance to such information and would be induced to act upon such information in making purchase decisions,” the lawsuit reads.

LaPlatney brings this matter on behalf of himself and those similarly situated who were uniformly impacted and exposed to Beanfields’ alleged misconduct.

Accordingly, he is seeking to represent a nationwide Class of consumers and a subclass of New York consumers who purchased these Beanfield products.

The plaintiff is also requesting injunctive relief on a class-wide basis to remedy Beanfields’ improper conduct in continuing to label and advertise their snack chips as “all natural” and inducing consumers to pay a premium for products when they otherwise would not have.

LaPlatney is represented by Jason P. Sultzer of The Sultzer Law Group PC and Jeff Brown of Leeds Brown.

The Beanfields Snack Chips False Advertising Class Action Lawsuit is Kevin LaPlatney v. Beanfields PBC a/k/a Beanfields Snacks Corporation, Case No. 1:16-cv-04822, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.