‘All Natural’ Corn Starch Class Action Settlement Awards $825K

An “all natural” class action settlement has been reached between Karlin Foods and Class Members in the amount of $825,000. The “natural” lawsuit filed by lead plaintiff Amber Teufel alleged that Karlin Foods falsely advertised the product packaging on its “sold exclusively at Walmart” corn starch claiming it was “all natural.” Teufel brought the “all natural” class action lawsuit against Karlin Foods alleging that the corn starch actually included ingredients that were genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Although Karlin Foods denies the allegations, the company has agreed to the settlement amount and has conceded that within two months of the final ruling, the corn starch product will no longer contain an “all natural” label. Karlin also stated that from now on they will make certain that the products they are labeling as “all natural” are in fact as they claim to be.

“All Natural” Food Labels

Food labels that include claims of “all natural,” “100% natural,” “organic,” “GMO-free,” and “natural” are covering more food products than ever before. This is in part due to the marketing strategy of many food manufacturers who have researched and found that more than 50 percent of Americans are actively seeking out a “natural” product when grocery shopping.

Market research has shown that consumers are willing to pay more for a product with a “natural” label. In 2013, “all natural” food sales generated $40 billion in the United States alone. This figure reflects the health consciousness of many Americans but there have been numerous lawsuits against food companies that have allegedly falsely advertised a product as “natural” just to generate higher revenue. Food marketing experts encourage consumers to check the ingredients closely to determine if the “all natural” label is accurate.

Understanding “Natural” Labels

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration policy on “natural” foods a product “does not contain added color, artificial flavors or synthetic substances.” There are some food marketers who intentionally deceive consumers into buying an “all natural” product when it in fact contains synthetic ingredients so its important to stay informed.

Organic Labels:

• In produce – It means the product was grown without pesticides or fertilizer.
• In meat and dairy – It means the animal was fed organic feed, allowed to graze outside and was not given hormones or antibiotics.
• In processed foods – It means the products is at least made up of 70 percent organic ingredients.

GMO-free Labels:

• A GMO-free label should only label a food product that is not genetically modified in any way.

At this time, the FDA has not regulated whether or not food items should be labeled as “GMO-containing” or “GMO-free,” they have left that decision up to the food companies.

“Natural” Foods Lawsuits

Consumers who have purchased an “all natural” food item only to find out it contains synthetic ingredients have felt misled by false advertising and often file lawsuits like this one. In general, “all natural” lawsuits allege that food marketers knew that any reasonable consumer would assume that a “natural” label meant that ingredients contained nothing artificial or chemical, yet companies intentionally labeled them in order to get higher sales at a higher price.

Contact an “all natural” food attorney if you suspect a product of false advertising. You may have a legal claim.

UPDATE: Instructions on how to file a claim for the All Natural Cornstarch settlement are now available! Click here or visit www.CornstarchSettlement.com for details.

Free All-Natural Food Label Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

Did you purchase a food product because the label said it was “Natural,” “All Natural,” “100% Natural” or used a similar term?

Some food products labeled “Natural,” “All Natural,” or “100% Natural” are not, in fact, natural because they contain unnatural ingredients, such as artificial additives, synthetic vitamins, and/or chemical preservatives.

Free Investigation