Class Action: Knudsen Blueberry Pomegranate Juice Label Is Misleading

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Last week, a class action lawsuit was filed in Florida federal court against juice makers Knudsen & Sons Inc. alleging that the company falsely marketed its Blueberry Pomegranate Juice as containing mostly those ingredients, when the juice is actually made mostly of apple juice and water.

Lead plaintiff Gary Snyder alleges in his false advertising class action lawsuit that he purchased a juice the company made called R.W. Knudsen Family Organic Blueberry Pomegranate Juice under the impression that the product would contain mostly blueberry and pomegranate juice. However, he later learned that the juice actually contains very little blueberry and pomegranate juice and is instead made mainly of cheap apple juice and water, the class action lawsuit alleges.

“The product purports to combine two of nature’s most potent antioxidants, pomegranate and blueberry, into a single juice product,” Snyder alleges in his class action lawsuit. “However, the truth is that the main ingredients in the product are neither purely pomegranate nor blueberry juice, but instead it is a mixture of cheap apple juice and lemon juice concentrates with pomegranate juice and a blueberry puree,” he continues.

Snyder argues that the company purposely and prominently displayed blueberry and pomegranate on the front label of the drink, in an effort to deceptively trick customers into buying it. “The voluntary and affirmative labeling decision to prominently display minor ingredients … in an otherwise primarily apple juice and filtered water drink is a misleading and unfair marketing tactic,” says the false advertising class action lawsuit. Snyder also points out that the other ingredients are displayed on the back label, and in much smaller font.

The plaintiff also argues that it is not enough for Knudsen to list all of the ingredients on the back of the product. Knudsen & Sons cannot “use the back of the label as a shield to protect it against the deceptive advertising on the front of the label,” Snyder argues in his false advertising class action lawsuit. “When the average reasonable customer sees the front of the product’s label, they are not getting a fair depiction of [what] the product really is,” he continues.

Snyder alleges that both he and the Class he proposes to represent paid a premium based on the labeling of the juice. He alleges in his class action lawsuit that he purchased the drink between up to 12 times, paying about $3.99 each time. Snyder further alleges that both he and his proposed Class purchased the juice under the “false impression” that it contained the health and nutritional benefits that are associated with pomegranate and blueberry juices.

Snyder seeks damages equal to the combined purchase price paid during the proposed Class period, plus pre- and post- judgment interest, and attorneys’ fees and costs.

Snyder is represented by Joshua H. Eggnatz and Michael J. Pascucci of Eggnatz Lopatin & Pascucci LLP.

The Knudsen Blueberry Pomegranate Juice Class Action Lawsuit is Snyder v. Knudsen & Sons Inc., Case No. 3:15-cv-00189, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Jacksonville Division.