Popcorners Chips Not ‘All Natural,’ Class Action Lawsuit Says

A false advertising class action lawsuit has been filed against Medora Snacks LLC for advertising and labeling their Popcorners Popped Corn Chips as “All Natural” even though the snack products allegedly contain unnatural ingredients.

According to the Popcorners class action lawsuit: “[Medora] has negligently, unlawfully, unfairly, misleadingly, and/or deceptively represented that at least four (4) varieties of its Popcorners Corn Chips are “All Natural,” despite containing unnatural, synthetic, and/or artificial, ingredients, including but not limited to, maltodextrin and/or dextrose.”

Maltodextrin is a starchy based food additive, while dextrose is an added sweetener. Both are derived artificially from natural sources and severely processed, rendering the ingredients “no longer natural,” the Popcorners class action lawsuit alleges.

The four varieties of Popcorners Corn Chips named in this false advertising class action lawsuit include: Popcorners Butter All Natural, Popcorners White Cheddar All Natural, Popcorners Cheesy Jalapeno All Natural, and Popcorners Caramel All Natural Corn Chips. All four contain maltodextrin, dextrose, or sometimes both.  Not only are these ingredients unnatural due to heavy processing, maltodextrin in particular is derived from genetically modified organisms (or GMOs), according to the Popcorners class action lawsuit.

In early November, plaintiff Andre Vandenberg filed this Medora corn chips false ad class action lawsuit in Florida federal court alleging that during the 2014 year he bought Medora’s Popcorners “All Natural” Corn Chips. Vandenberg alleges that when making his decision to purchase Medora’s corn chip products, he relied on the information provided by the advertisement and marketing of the Popcorners Corn Chips claiming the product was “All Natural.”

According to the Medora corn chips false ad class action lawsuit, “Defendant’s ‘All Natural’ statement prominently displayed on the front of the box for the Products and on the front of each individual packaging for the Products is untrue, misleading, and likely to deceive reasonable consumers, such as Plaintiff and members of the Class, because the Products are not ‘All Natural’ due to the presence of unnatural, synthetic, and/or artificial ingredients in the Products.”

In this Popcorners class action lawsuit, Vandenberg seeks to represent himself and a nationwide Class, which would include all U.S. consumers who purchased Medora’s Popcorners All Natural products from Aug. 4, 2010, until the Nov. 4, 2014. The plaintiff is also seeking to certify a statewide Class of all consumers who also purchased Medora’s All Natural corn chip products during the Class Period.

In this false advertising class action lawsuit, Vandenberg seeks equitable relief for himself and the Class against Medora Snacks for allegedly employing false and unlawful business practices that violate Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, negligent misrepresentation, breach of express warranty, violation of Magnusson-Moss Warranty Act, and unjust enrichment.

The Medora Corn Chips False Ad Class Action Lawsuit is Vandenberg v. Medora Snacks LLC, Case No. 3:14-cv-04692-LB, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.