Frito-Lay Class Action Alleges Ruffles Chips Contain Artificial Flavors

A Frito-Lay customer has launched a class action lawsuit against the company over claims that Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream chips are artificially flavored.

This Ruffles false advertising class action lawsuit is the second to be filed against the company this year — in March, a New York consumer also challenged the same product’s labeling.

Now, the most recent Ruffles class action lawsuit has been removed to federal court.

The Ruffles false ad class action lawsuit was filed by Tami Svensrud, a California resident who says she purchased Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream chips for personal consumption.

According to Svensrud, Ruffles packaging does not contain the legally-required “artificially flavored” labeling on the front of the package even though they are flavored with artificial flavors. 

She argues that this inaccurate labeling could lead consumers to believe that the products are flavored naturally, and says consumers who purchased the product were financially injured because what they received was different than what was advertised. Svensrud alleges that this misrepresentation violates both California and federal law. 

The Ruffles artificial flavoring class action lawsuit explains that the Ruffles Cheddar & Sour Cream chips are not flavored with cheddar and sour cream, as advertised. Instead, the snacks allegedly contain an artificial flavoring designed to imitate cheddar cheese, as well as an artificial butter flavor, both of which are not noted on the front of the packaging. 

Allegedly, the only mention of “artificial flavors” is on the back of the product in the ingredient list. Furthermore, Svensrud states that the only element on the front label that indicates the product might not be made with real cheddar cheese and sour cream is the word “flavor” on the front label, written in an inconspicuous color and placed in a hard-to-spot location.

According to the Frito-Lay false advertising class action lawsuit, this labeling is designed to mislead customers into thinking that the products are made with real cheddar cheese and sour cream. However, this tactic is allegedly prohibited by law. 

The Ruffles misrepresentation class action lawsuit explains that the California Health and Safety Code requires that food must be labeled as “artificially flavored” on the front of the packaging.

Per the law’s requirements, a food is considered to be misbranded if it contains artificial flavoring, artificial coloring, and chemical preservatives that are not “adequately disclosed” on the food’s label.

Additionally Svensrud says that the improper labeling and misrepresentation also violates the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, the Unfair Competition law and represents an instance of false advertising and misrepresentation.

The Ruffles cheddar and sour cream class action lawsuit says that Frito-Lay caused financial injury to consumers through this marketing ploy.

Allegedly, many consumers would not have purchased the product if they had known that it contained artificial flavors, or would not have paid as much for it if they had known.

Around the country, consumers increasingly seek out and prioritize naturally flavored foods, seeing them as healthier and of higher quality than their artificial counterparts, says the Ruffles class action lawsuit.

California consumers are particularly health-conscious, says Svensrud. The state reportedly is rated America’s healthiest state, a trend reflected in how its consumers shop.

This general trend towards being heath conscious, not just in California, but around the country, has allegedly affected the food industry.

In 2014, a Consumer Reports National Research Center study reported that around 60 percent of consumers around the country specifically seek out natural or healthy foods. According to Svensrud, this number has only been on the rise since then. 

In filing a Frito-Lay misrepresentation class action lawsuit, Svensrud seeks compensation for financial injury on behalf of herself and all other customers who purchased Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream potato chips within the last four years for their personal consumption.

The Ruffles fake cheddar flavoring class action lawsuit also states that in financially injuring consumers and misrepresenting its products, Frito-Lay was unjustly enriched by the sale of the products. Because of this, Svensrud also asks Frito-Lay to return the profits that were unjustly gained from the sale of the Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream potato chips. 

Do you buy chips that are artificially flavored? Share your preferences in the comments below.

Svensrud is represented by Aashish Y. Desai of Desai Law Firm.

The Frito-Lay Ruffles Artificial Flavoring Class Action Lawsuit is Tami Svensrud v. Frito-Lay North America Inc., et al., Case No. 8:20-cv-00714, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

UPDATE: On July 24, 2020, Frito-Lay asked the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to throw out a proposed class action lawsuit saying that Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream chips are mislabeled. 

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