Kettle Brand sued over claims its avocado oil chips contain cheaper oils

By Top Class Actions | September 8, 2026

Category: False Advertising

(Photo Credit: PJ McDonnell/Shutterstock)

Kettle Brand class action lawsuit overview:

Who: A Kettle Brand chips consumer is suing The Campbell’s Co.
Why: The plaintiff claims Kettle Brand falsely advertises its avocado oil chips.
Where: The Kettle Brand class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

A new class action lawsuit claims Kettle Brand’s avocado oil chips contain refined vegetable seed oils rather than avocado oil as advertised.

Plaintiff Diana Heiland alleges Campbell’s makes false and misleading labeling and marketing claims about its Kettle Brand “Made with Avocado Oil” Sea Salt With a Hint of Pink Peppercorn potato chips. She alleges that the description of being made with avocado oil is untrue.

Heiland claims that scientific testing conducted by food scientists at the University of California, Davis, found that the oil in the chips is compositionally inconsistent with authentic avocado oil. Instead, the oil in the chips has the compositional signature of cheap, refined vegetable oils, she says.

The plaintiff alleges the absence of avocado oil and the presence of cheap oils in the tested product reveals a widespread issue in Kettle Brand’s manufacturing processes.

“Because the product at issue claims to be made with avocado oil, the avocado oil substitution with cheap oils occurred at the defendant’s manufacturing facilities, and the absence of avocado oil affects all batches and lots of the defendant’s product, including the plaintiff’s purchase,” she says in the Kettle Brand class action lawsuit.

Plaintiff: Kettle Brand avocado oil chips sold at a premium price

Heiland claims that the company’s failure to ensure that its product actually contains avocado oil has resulted in economic harm to consumers who paid a premium for what they believed was a healthier snack option.

The complaint alleges violations of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law. It also brings claims for breach of express warranty and unjust enrichment.

Heiland is looking to represent anyone in the United States who purchased the product for personal or household use during the statute of limitations period.

She is suing for damages and is seeking certification of the class action, an injunction, fees, costs and a jury trial.

Meanwhile, Cape Cod potato chips, another Campbell’s product, is facing a lawsuit claiming the company falsely advertises the chips as containing no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives despite the chips containing synthetic citric acid.

What do you think of the allegations made in this Kettle Brand class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Neal J. Deckant, Ines Diaz Villafana and Karen B. Valenzuela of Bursor & Fisher P.A.

The Kettle Brand class action lawsuit is Heiland v. The Campbell’s Co., Case No. 1:26-at-03172, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.