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Last week, a class action lawsuit was filed against Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company Inc., the makers of American Spirit cigarettes, and their parent company Reynolds American Inc., alleging that the companies falsely advertise their cigarette product as “natural,” “organic,” and “additive free” when in reality the cigarettes contain ammonia to maximize the amount of freebase nicotine.
Lead plaintiff, Florida resident Justin Sproule, alleges in his class action lawsuit that American Spirit cigarettes are touted as healthier than other cigarettes and have become the fastest-growing super-premium cigarette brand on the market. However, he alleges the cigarettes actually contain ammonia and menthol to increase the amount of nicotine taken in by the smoker and to improve taste.
“American Spirits consumers, like plaintiff, expect that the cigarette is healthier than other cigarettes,” the class action lawsuit alleges. “These consumers associate defendants’ advertising terms such as ‘natural,’ ‘organic,’ and ‘additive free’ with reduced risk.” Sproule alleges that the tobacco company studies confirm these associations by consumers as well.
Santa Fe also sells American Spirit in health food stores and includes literature from “America’s leading natural foods teacher” that includes claims the cigarettes are medicinal and that Native Americans smoke similar additive-free cigarettes without developing cancer, according to the American Spirit class action lawsuit.
“Defendants’ claims are patently deceptive, especially in today’s market, where these terms have a potent meaning for the health- and environmentally-conscious consumer,” says Sproule in the American Spirit class action lawsuit.
These health claims are fraudulent, according to the American Spirit class action lawsuit. Santa Fe adds ammonia to maximize the amount of freebase nicotine, says Sproule, which results in more of the addictive nicotine being delivered to the smoker.
The class action lawsuit alleges that American Spirit cigarettes contain 36 percent freebase nicotine compared with Camel’s 2.7 percent, Winston’s 6.2 percent and Marlboro’s 9.6 percent. Additionally, the American Spirit class action lawsuit alleges that Santa Fe adds menthol to flavor the cigarettes.
Officially named Natural American Spirit, American Spirit cigarettes are the fastest-growing super-premium cigarette brand, achieving an 86 percent increase in its sales from 2009 to 2014, while cigarette sales have declined 17 percent overall in the United States, according to the cigarette labeling class action lawsuit.
The class action lawsuit also alleges that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration sent Santa Fe a warning letter about its marketing of American Spirit on Aug. 27.
“[Santa Fe’s] conduct is with knowing, conscious and deliberate disregard for the rights and safety of consumers,” argues Sproule in his American Spirit class action lawsuit, asking the court to award punitive damages in “an amount appropriate to punish defendants and deter them from similar conduct in the future.”
According to the class action lawsuit, the proposed Class would include anyone in the United States who has purchased Natural American Spirit cigarettes for personal consumption from their first date of issue through at least Aug. 27. Additionally, damages in excess of $5 million should be awarded, according to the plaintiff.
Sproule is represented by Scott P. Schlesinger, Jonathan R. Gdanski and Jeffrey L. Haberman of Schlesinger Law Offices PA.
The American Spirit Class Action Lawsuit is Sproule v. Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Co. Inc., et al., Case No. 0:15-cv-62064, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
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88 thoughts onClass Action Says American Spirit Cigarettes Aren’t Natural
My husband smokes these…better let him know about this. And please keep me posted on filing paperwork. Thanks
I also smoke the identical pack shown and have a pack next to me. I really thought they were better, non addictive it states…..I have bought the organic as well. I get their coupons and mailings and even received some stencil for my birthday. Its unbelievable. How companies mislead and cannot be honest.
I started smoking these a little over a year ago. The same light blue pack and everything. Me and my brother still smoke them, thinking they were better cigarettes or at least posed to be that way. I started getting really bad headaches when I would smoke these and so I stopped. I want to join to fight against this. Inhaling smoke is inhaling smoke, but the nicotine content can cause tremendous life changes and reactions that we wouldn’t diagnose because we didn’t know a company would get away with lying. Again. Count me in.
I smoke these, thinking they were a healthier choice?
All Natural does NOT mean SAFE!!! If you smoke you are too stupid to deserve to be able to sue tobacco companies. ALL cigarettes are hazardous to your health. No cigarette is safe to smoke.
I am furious over this, I had switched to vapor from Marlboro Lights. I was told these were all natural, which should mean, no additives. I pay 2 dollars more a pack. I want my money back!
I also smoke these because they are supposed to be additive free. How do I join up?
id drive to Niobrara Nebraska to buy these
This is all my husband smokes, he switched from Winston cigarettes to American Spirit products, because it was suppose to be all natural. He has been using American Spirit products since they were introduced. Makes us very upset that yet another company has deceived us. Count us in on the lawsuit.
Feel like a fool. Smoked these for years. How fo we join?