UPDATE: On Oct. 5, 2020, aย federal judge ruled that a class action lawsuit over Campbellโs soup may move forward, despite the companyโs arguments for dismissal.
A class action lawsuit alleging that the Campbell Soup Company tricks consumers into thinking various types of its soups are made without preservatives has been removed to federal court.
Lead plaintiffs, Danielle Schwartz and Haunah Vanlaningham, claim in the Campbell Soup class action lawsuit that the packaging on certain types of soups state that the products are โMade With Patience, Not Preservatives,โ or even โNo Preservatives Added.โ
However, say the plaintiffs, the soups actually contain known preservatives, such as citric acid, ascorbic acid, and succinic acid.
In the Campbell Soup class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs each say that they decided to purchase the cans of the soup at issue because they thought they were free of preservatives.
Schwartz says she purchased the soup at a cost of nearly $4 a can โ a price she wouldnโt have paid had she known the product contained preservatives.
Vanlaningham alleges that she purchased several cans of Campbell soup for approximately $2.49 a can. She says she relied on the packaging informing her the product did not contain preservatives, and she too would not have purchased or paid as much for the soup had she known it actually did contain preservatives.
According to the Campbell Soup class action lawsuit, three variations of โSlow Kettle Styleโ soup are deceptively advertised:
- Tomato & Sweet Basil Bisque
- Roasted Red Pepper & Smoke Gouda Bisque
- New England Clam Chowder
The Campbell Soup class action lawsuit alleges that the packaging on these soups say โMade with Patience, Not Preservatives.โ
Campbellโs โHome Styleโ soups called into question by this class action lawsuit include:
- Harvest Tomato with Basil
- Zesty Tomato
In addition to Campbellโs โHome Style Healthy Requestโ Harvest Tomato with Basil soup, the Campbell Soup class action lawsuit alleges that the packaging on these products states โNo Preservatives Added.โ
โBecause the Soups contain the Preservatives, the representations that the Soups contain no preservatives are unfair, false, deceptive, and misleading,โ alleges the Campbell Soup class action lawsuit.
โBy claiming that the Soups are free of preservatives, Defendant deceives consumers into believing that the Soups do not contain preservatives, when they in fact contain the Preservatives.โ
The Campbell Soup class action lawsuit accuses the company of playing on consumersโ desires to purchase healthy, natural products.
By placing statements on the labeling indicating the soups did not contain preservatives, Campbell allegedly duped consumers into paying more for their products.
Further, the preservatives contained in the product are not what consumers who are seeking preservative-free products want, contends the Campbell Soup class action lawsuit.
Citric acid, rather than being derived from citrus fruits, is actually the product of a common black mold, alleges the Campbell Soup class action lawsuit.
Ascorbic acid is used to prevent decay due to oxygenation and to preserve flavor in canned foods. Succinic acid is used to stop the growth of bacteria, mold, and yeast, allege the plaintiffs.
โAs a result of Defendantโs deceitful labels, Defendant was able to charge, and Plaintiffs and class members paid, a premium for the supposed preservative-free Soups,โ states the Campbell Soup class action lawsuit. โBecause they are not in fact preservative-free, the Soups were worth less than they were represented to be, and Plaintiffs and class members paid extra for them.โ
The Campbell Soup class action lawsuit seeks to represent Illinois residents who purchased the soups.
The plaintiffs are represented by David C. Nelson of Nelson & Nelson Attorneys at Law PC, and Matthew H. Armstrong of Armstrong Law Firm LLC.
The Campbell Soup โNo Preservativesโ Class Action Lawsuitย is Scwhartz, et al. v. Campbell Soup Co., Case No. 3:18-cv-01655-NJR-DGW, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
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646 thoughts onCampbell Soup Class Action Says โNo Preservativesโ Claim is Misleading
Please add me to the list
please add me
Please add me to the class action lawsuit.
For several months I loved the convenience of the slow kettle style, tomato sweet basil bisque soup. I am very disappointed to hear Cambellโs would do this.
Please add me to list.
Oops! Campbell Soup
Please add me.
I was a Campbell soup believer, Now, I donโt trust them anymore! Please add me to the list. That was the only soup I would buy. I am so disappointed. That has really hurt me!!
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Please add me
Add.me.as well
Please add my name as well. I just purchased a half dozen cans!