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A $3.95 million settlement has been reached in a class action lawsuit that alleges the packaging on certain Frontera and Salpica products was false and deceptive because they were described as “all natural” even though they allegedly contained synthetic ingredients and/or the label listed “evaporated cane juice” instead of “sugar” as an ingredient.
If you purchased Frontera or Salpica branded products between Sept. 1, 2011 and Sept. 11, 2017, you may be entitled to compensation from the class action settlement.
The Frontera and Salpica products covered by the class action settlement include salsas, marinades, queso, taco sauce, soups, seasonings, Bloody Mary mix, and tortilla chips.
According to the fourth amended Frontera class action lawsuit, which was filed Sept. 11, 2017, defendant River North Foods Inc. prominently represents the products as “all natural,” leading consumers to believe they are made up of only natural ingredients.
“The [Federal Trade Commission] recently made clear that ‘all-natural’ or ‘100% natural’ mean just that,” the Frontera class action lawsuit says. “If you advertise your product as ‘all-natural’ or ‘100% natural’ and it contains artificial ingredients or chemicals, now is the natural time for a compliance check.”
The plaintiffs also challenge the inclusion of the term “evaporated cane juice” as an ingredient, when it is essentially “sugar in disguise.” They point to a conclusion by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration that the term “evaporated cane juice” is misleading because it leads consumers to believe the sweetener is made from juice when its basic characterizing properties are the same as sugar.
Defendant River North Foods Inc. denies the allegations and maintains its products were truthfully packaged and marketed. However, the company has agreed to settle the Frontera class action lawsuit to avoid the burden and expense of ongoing litigation.
Class Members who wish to opt out of or file an objection to the Frontera settlement must do so no later than Nov. 27, 2017.
UPDATE: On March 30, 2018, Top Class Actions viewers started receiving checks worth as much as $5 from the Frontera, Salpica “all natural” class action settlement. Congratulations to everyone who filed a claim and got PAID.
Who’s Eligible
Class Members of the Frontera settlement include anyone who, between Sept. 1, 2011 and Sept. 11, 2017, purchased in the United States any Frontera or Salpica products which contain any of the following terms on the labels: Natural (including All Natural and 100% Natural); Evaporated Cane Juice; Evaporated Cane Sugar; Evaporated Cane Juice Sugar; citric acid; xanthan; xanthan gum; disodium phosphate; dipotassium phosphate; and/or sodium citrate.
A list of the covered products is available here.
NOTE: The products must have been purchased for personal use and not for resale.
Potential Award
Up to $10.
Class Members may claim a benefit of 50 cents per eligible product purchased. Class Members who submit proof of purchase may claim up to 20 products for a total of up to $10 per household, while Class Members without proof of purchase may claim up to 10 products for a maximum of $5 per household.
Proof of Purchase
No proof of purchase is required. However, claimants who do not submit proof of purchase are limited to a claim of up to $5 while claimants who submit proof of purchase may make a claim for up to $10.
Claim Form
Claim Form Deadline
11/27/2017
Case Name
Angela Barnes, et al. v. River North Foods Inc., Case No. 16-L-459, in St. Clair County Circuit Court, Illinois
Final Hearing
12/4/2017
Settlement Website
www.BarnesSettlement.com
Claims Administrator
Barnes, et al. v. River North Foods Inc.
c/o Heffler Claims Group
P.O. Box 59543
Philadelphia, PA 19102-9543
1-800-481-7947
Class Counsel
David C. Nelson
NELSON & NELSON ATTORNEYS AT LAW PC
Matthew H. Armstrong
ARMSTRONG LAW FIRM LLC
Stuart Cochran
STECKLER GRESHAM COCHRAN PLLC
Defense Counsel
John P. Cunningham
BROWN & JAMES PC
Judy Ockenfuss
ICE MILLER LLP
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28 thoughts onFrontera, Salpica ‘All Natural’ Salsa, Marinade, Taco Sauce Settlement
What a shameful way that Heffler Claims is running this! You purchase the product. Without proof of purchase, which can go all the way back to 2011, they will provide 50 cents up to a maximum of ten (10) products purchased. A grand total of $ 5.00! That’s it! Then on January 4, 2018, I receive an email that called, “NOTICE OF CLAIM CONFIRMATION” that requires me to print their document “under penalty of perjury” and have it mailed, at my postage expense, and in their possession (ha ha!) by February 17, 2018. Then I receive an email from the Heffler Claims Group, the late morning of January 8, 2018, entitled, “Certifcation under Penalty of Perjury” that now requires the same printing and mailing, all at my own expense, with a NEW due date of January 13, 2018. OUR USPS MAIL SERVICE TO PHILADELPHIA, PA., WOULD NEVER MAKE IT THERE BY THEN. Even if it was mailed on that new email date of January 8,, 2018! First of all, I have problems in late October, 2018, even entering this one due to computer problems with Heffler Claims Group. I called and emailed them. When I finally got it into the system…then I get this!
They all want us to drop our valid claims. I guess their attorneys and the Heffler Claims Group makes out and we, the honest consumers, get messed over, again! This is NOT the first time that I have had problems directly with the Heffler Claims Group. The courts will be hearing from a number of us about them!
Maybe TCA can comment on this. Many reported the same email I received. CROSS EXAMINATION ?
(As part of our customary procedures and fraudulent analysis, please confirm that your Claim Form was submitted completely, truthfully, and accurately by visiting the “Documents” section of the Settlement website…and printing and signing the “Certification Under Penalty of Perjury…the Settlement Administrator may request additional information from Claimants including by cross examination)
The class action many of us joined was due to false product claims made by the manufacturer. With this second layer of verification for those who were affected as a result of purchasing what was not truth in advertising, why are misled consumers being treated like low-level criminals?
Bottom line is settlement administrators may decide to take additional measures to validate claims. It may be something that we predetermined and noted in the settlement agreement, or it may be a decision that is come to after the claim period closes. While we understand that it can be frustrating for class members, it is not uncommon.
this is b s … a 5 buck claim …and now fill out another form … wtf .. there should be a law suit about this
I got an email on this asking me to verify the claim. Requesting I print and fill out a paper form and mail it in certifying under penalty of perjury.
Anyone else? Or I wonder if my claim is being flagged for some reason.
I got one also.
I received the same form as well just now.
Yes. Me too. Can they do that? Seems like a cheap way to get out of paying claims because most people won’t follow through with that.
You GREEDY lawyers are taking most of the 3.95 million! 0.50/ purchase is not even worth filling out your form. The law firm is getting rich from Frontera and Rick Baylis. Very sad splitting hairs to suit someone, yet very American isn’t it?
Here at Top Class Actions, we report on class action lawsuits and settlements around the country to bring awareness to you, our viewers. We do not actually file any lawsuits as we are not attorneys, and therefore cannot offer legal advice.
Top Class Actions does not profit from any settlement we report on.
I think I am going to get sick with all this fungi talk
Ok- did anyone get this to work yet? –An unexpected error has occurred
Please make sure you have filled out the form correctly and try resubmitting your request.
tried it 5 times, wouldn’t go thru.
I cant get that one to load either :/
Ok- did anyone get this to work yet? –An unexpected error has occurred
Please make sure you have filled out the form correctly and try resubmitting your request.
tried it 3 times, wouldn’t go thru.
I fill it out hit submit Error…Grrr
Yup. Clever way to reduce the number of claims filed.
If you don’t know that evaporated cane juice is sugar, than you’re an idiot.
I wanna know why they put dihydrogen monoxide into all our food when 100% of people who have ingested it end up dying?
no one gets out of here alive englebert humperdink in response to your post oct 3`