Mott’s Class Action Says Applesauce, Apple Juice Aren’t All Natural

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A class action lawsuit against Mott’s says the company is using the terms “natural” and “all natural ingredients” to deceive consumers about what’s really inside their apple juice and applesauce products.

Plaintiff Hawyuan Yu states in the Mott’s class action lawsuit that the applesauce maker is trying to take advantage of the growing demand for healthy and natural products, but that the items actually contain unnatural ingredients.

The lawsuit against Motts says that the company is responsible for false advertising since use of “natural” terms on a product’s label are often top considerations for someone willing to pay a premium.

The Mott’s applesauce class action lawsuit claims that a reasonable consumer would assume that any products with an “all natural ingredients” label would be free from synthetic chemicals or other remnants from artificial processing.

The plaintiff argues that contrary to what’s listed on the applesauce and apple juice labels, the products contain a synthetic chemical known as acetamiprid. Yu says that this ingredient is not natural.

The Mott’s apple juice class action lawsuit claims that this ingredient is harmful to some animals and can have negative impacts on human development.

While the use of this ingredient is legal in food products, the Mott’s applesauce class action lawsuit argues that consumers would not make the connection that a natural product would contain such an item.

The Mott’s class action says that reasonable consumers lack the means to carry out scientific testing to determine if an “all natural” claim is accurate and therefore rely on the defendants to appropriately label their products.

Yu says that nowhere on the product labeling of Mott’s applesauce or Mott’s apple juice is there a listing of synthetic ingredients.

The Mott’s applesauce class action says that the defendants improved their profits while marketing a product that was misleading to buyers.

“By deceiving consumers about the nature and quality of the Products, Defendants are able to sell a greater volume of product, to charge higher prices for the Products, and to take away market share from competing products, thereby increasing sales and profits,” the Mott’s apple juice class action lawsuit states.

The Mott’s applesauce class action lawsuit seeks to represent a nationwide Class of all consumers who purchased the company’s products labeled as “natural” or “all natural ingredients” within the U.S. during the limitations period and through the Class certification date.

Yu also seeks to represent a California subclass.

The Mott’s applesauce class action lawsuit alleges numerous violations, including some under the California Unfair Competition Law and the False Advertising Law.

The plaintiff is represented by Clark A. Binkley and Jaime Mak of Richman Law Group.

The Mott’s Applesauce, Apple Juice Class Action Lawsuit is Hawyuan Yu v. Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc., et al., Case No. 5:18-cv-06664-NC, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.