Costco Coconut Oil Mislabeling Class Action Settlement

Purchasers of Costco coconut oil can qualify for reimbursement under terms of a recent $775,000 class action settlement.

This Costco class action lawsuit began in March 2016, when plaintiffs James Boswell and Malia Levin challenged representations on Costco coconut oil that present the product as “healthy.” The product at issue comes in a 42.3-ounce jar and is sold under the Kirkland label, Costco’s house brand, often sold in two-jar packs.

The plaintiffs accuse Costco of exploiting consumer interest in foods that are perceived as being “healthy.” Coconut oil has a substantial amount of saturated fat, which increases the chance of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and other dangerous diseases, the plaintiffs say. That risk makes Costco coconut oil inherently unhealthy and a less healthy alternative to other fats and oils.

After more than a year of discovery, preliminary motions and mediation sessions, the parties agreed to this class action settlement in May 2017. The settlement requires Costco to put up a $775,000 settlement fund to cover compensation for Class Members. This fund will also cover the plaintiffs’ service awards, court costs, class counsel’s attorneys’ fees, and the costs of administering the settlement.

Costco has also agreed to remove the terms “healthy” and “healthful” from the label of Costco coconut oil and to refrain from any future use of those terms or any variation of the term “healthy.”

Although Costco has agreed to the settlement, it maintains that it has done nothing wrong. The settlement agreement does not require Costco to make any admissions, and the court has not issued any decision on liability.

Class Members who want to be excluded from the settlement must do so in writing by Oct. 30, 2017. Those who want to object to the settlement’s terms must file their objections by Nov. 13, 2017.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members include all persons in the U.S. who bought Kirkland Signature Organic Virgin Coconut Oil in 42.3-ounce jars for personal or household use since March 1, 2014.

Potential Award

Once the settlement fund has been used to pay other expenses, the remaining funds will be distributed among Class Members who submit valid and timely claims. Each qualifying Class Member will receive payment for each Costco coconut oil product purchased, for up to five units per Class Member.

Proof of Purchase

The settlement administrator requires different documentation depending on where the Class Member bought their Costco coconut oil:

• Class Members who purchased their Costco coconut oil from Costco and were Costco members at the time of purchase must provide their Costco membership number. Their purchase will be verified using Costco’s own records.
• Class Members who purchased Costco coconut oil from a source other than Costco must provide documentation of the purchase that shows the price paid as well as the date and location of the purchase.

Claim Form

CLICK HERE TO FILE A CLAIM »

Claim Form Deadline

10/30/2017

Case Name

Boswell, et al. v. Costco Wholesale Corp., et al., Case No. 8:16-cv-00278, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Final Hearing

12/4/2017

UPDATE: The Costco Coconut Oil Mislabeling Class Action Settlement was granted final approval on December 13, 2017. Let Top Class Actions know when you receive a check in the comments section below or on our  Facebook page.

Settlement Website

www.KirklandCoconutOilSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

Kirkland Signature Coconut Oil Settlement
c/o Dahl Administration
P.O. Box 3614
Minneapolis, MN 55403-0614
1-866-875-7574
info@KirklandCoconutOilSettlement.com

Class Counsel

Jack Fitzgerald
THE LAW OFFICE OF JACK FITZGERALD PC

Paul K. Joseph
THE LAW OFFICE OF PAUL K. JOSEPH PC

Defense Counsel

Frank J. Broccolo
LAW OFFICE OF FRANK J. BROCCOLO

Anthony B. Gordon
GORDON AND GORDON, A PROFESSIONAL LAW CORPORATION

Baxter Banowsky
BANOWSKY & LEVINE PC