Christina Spicer  |  December 9, 2019

Category: Food

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Bear Naked granola allegedly contains no vanillaA new Kellogg class action lawsuit claims that the company deceives consumers into thinking that its product Bear Naked Granola contains real vanilla, when it does not.

Lead plaintiff, California resident Harlan Zaback, alleges in his class action lawsuit that Kellogg’s Bear Naked Granola Fit V’nilla Almond is falsely advertised.

Zaback says that Kellogg deliberately lets consumers think they are purchasing a product made with real vanilla; however, a look at the ingredients list reveals otherwise.

According to the Kellogg class action lawsuit, the ingredient list on Bear Naked Granola Fit V’nilla Almond does not contain the word vanilla, but “natural flavorings.” Kellogg’s website is misleading as well, alleges the complaint.

“’Bear Naked Granola Fit V’nilla Almond’ does not identify vanilla extract or vanilla flavoring as the flavoring source for its vanilla flavor, despite vanilla constituting a ‘characterizing flavor’ based on its packaging, along with ‘almond,’” alleges the plaintiff. “Defendant’s listing of ‘natural flavors’, as opposed to vanilla flavor or vanilla extract, is a tacit acknowledgment that the ‘natural flavors’ is not a synonym for the required vanilla ingredients.”

Zaback claims that he purchased Bear Naked Granola Fit V’nilla and Almond under the reasonable impression that the product was made with vanilla beans.

He points out that on the product packaging, under the name of the product, are the words “naturally flavored.” In addition, a picture of vanilla beans with the word “vanilla” below is reportedly found on the back of the package.

The Kellogg class action lawsuit alleges that Zaback and other consumers would not have purchased or paid a premium for Bear Naked Granola Fit V’nilla Almond had they known that the product did not contain real vanilla.

“Nowhere on the packaging does it disclose that the ‘Bear Naked Granola Fit V’nilla Almond’ is flavored with anything other than vanilla flavoring derived exclusively from vanilla beans,” states the complaint. “Rather, as described above, the packaging uses words and even a picture of vanilla beans to misrepresent to Plaintiff and reasonable consumers that it is flavored with vanilla flavoring derived exclusively from vanilla beans.”

The Kellogg class action claims that vanilla is one of the most popular, but second most expensive food flavorings in the words. This allegedly makes it tempting for food producers to use cheaper imitations.

“Tactics used to make consumers believe they are getting a product with only real vanilla include: adding synthetically produced vinillin derived from wood pulp, tree bark, coal tar, or anal secretions from beaver castor sacs; ‘extending’ vanilla with various flavoring substances with no connection or resemblance to real vanilla beans; and utilizing Tonka bean extract which is a source of coumarin, a substance banned for use in food in the US since 1954 based on possible safety concerns, among others,” notes the Kellogg class action lawsuit.

The Kellogg class action lawsuit seeks to represent a nationwide Class of consumers who purchased Bear Naked Granola Fit V’nilla Almond, along with a California subclass. The plaintiff accuses Kellogg of fraud, misrepresentation, unjust enrichment, and violations of California business law.

Have you purchased Kellogg’s Bear Naked Granola V’nilla Almond? Tell us more in the comments below.

The plaintiff is represented by Eric LaGuardia of LaGuardia Law APC and Devon K. Roepcke of Law Offices of Devon L. Roepcke PC.

The Kellogg Class Action Lawsuit is Zaback v. Kellogg Sales Company, et al., Case No. 3:19-cv-02327-CAB-BGS, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

UPDATE: On June 22, 2020, a federal judge has thrown out a proposed class action lawsuit against Kellogg’s filed by a consumer who claimed that the company’s Bear Naked Granola V’nilla product did not contain vanilla derived from real vanilla beans.

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297 thoughts onKellogg Class Action Says Bear Naked Granola Doesn’t Contain Vanilla

  1. MARCY GREENBLATT says:

    add me

  2. MARCY GREENBLATT says:

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  3. Dyker Neyland says:

    Please add me.

  4. Ryan Crowe says:

    Add me please had this for breakfast

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