Smucker’s class action alleges ‘Natural’ fruit spreads contain artificial ingredient

Smucker’s class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: A Smucker’s customer filed a class action lawsuit against The J.M. Smucker Company.
• Why: The plaintiff alleges Smucker’s falsely advertises its fruit spreads as “natural” and “made with ingredients from natural sources” when they actually contain an artificial ingredient.
• Where: The Smucker’s class action lawsuit was filed in a California federal court.

A new class action lawsuit accuses the J.M. Smucker Company of falsely advertising its fruit spreads as being “natural” and “made with ingredients from natural sources.”

Plaintiff Adina Ringler filed the class action complaint against The J.M. Smucker Company on Feb. 10 in a California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

According to the lawsuit, Smucker’s fruit spreads actually contain citric acid, an artificial ingredient not made from natural sources.

Ringler alleges Smucker’s uses an artificial form of citric acid manufactured through chemical processing, which is not derived from natural sources like fruit.

The Smucker’s Natural Fruit Spread class action claims Smucker’s misleadingly markets its fruit spreads as “natural” and “made with ingredients from natural sources” to appeal to health-conscious consumers.

However, the plaintiff says the presence of artificial citric acid contradicts these claims.

Smucker’s fruit spreads contain artificial ingredient, plaintiff says

Ringler claims she purchased a Smucker’s Natural Triple Berry Fruit Spread in May 2024 from a Smart & Final store in Northridge, California, relying on the product’s “natural” labeling.

She says she wouldn’t have bought the fruit spread, or would have paid less for it, if she had known it contained an artificial ingredient.

The Smucker’s Natural Fruit Spread class action lawsuit cites studies showing that commercially produced citric acid is typically made using a type of black mold through heavy chemical processing.

The plaintiff argues that the majority of citric acid used in food production is not naturally extracted from fruits but is instead manufactured through this artificial process.

Ringler claims Smucker’s actions violate California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act and Unfair Competition Law. The lawsuit also alleges breach of express warranty and seeks to represent a nationwide class of consumers who purchased Smucker’s fruit spreads.

The lawsuit seeks damages, restitution and injunctive relief to prevent Smucker’s from continuing to market its products as “natural” when they contain artificial ingredients.

Meanwhile, another recent class action lawsuit alleges Kraft Heinz falsely advertises that its Capri-Sun juice pouches contain all natural ingredients.

What do you think of the claims made in this Smucker’s Natural Fruit Spread class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Lilach H. Klein, Michael T. Houchin and Zachary M. Crosner of Crosner Legal PC.

The Smucker’s class action lawsuit is Adina Ringler v. The J.M. Smucker Company, Case No. 25-cv-1138 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

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