Edited by: Jessy Edwards  |  January 31, 2025

Category: Food
Close up of Walmart storefront signage, representing the Walmart class action.
(Photo Credit: Danille Nicole Wilson/Shutterstock)

Walmart class action lawsuit overview:

  • Who: Consumers Kaitlyn Taylor and Justin Alicea are suing Walmart Inc.
  • Why: The plaintiffs claim that Walmart falsely advertises its Great Value Macaroni & Cheese Original Microwavable Cup product as being free of artificial flavors and preservatives.
  • Where: The Great Value instant macaroni and cheese lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

A new class action lawsuit claims Walmart falsely advertises its Great Value Macaroni & Cheese Original Microwavable Cup product as being free of artificial flavors and preservatives.

Plaintiffs Kaitlyn Taylor and Justin Alicea filed the class action complaint against Walmart Inc. on Jan. 23 in a California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

The lawsuit claims Walmart’s Great Value Macaroni & Cheese Original Microwavable Cup product is falsely advertised as containing “No artificial flavors” and “No artificial preservatives.”

The lawsuit alleges that the product actually contains citric acid, an artificial preservative and flavoring agent.

Taylor and Alicea claim that Walmart’s packaging and advertising are designed to mislead consumers into believing they are purchasing a premium product free from artificial ingredients.

Walmart’s mac and cheese is made with citric acid, lawsuit says

The Great Value instant macaroni and cheese lawsuit claims that citric acid, a common food additive, is artificially manufactured using a type of black mold and chemical solvents. This process, the lawsuit alleges, makes citric acid an artificial ingredient, contrary to Walmart’s claims on the product’s packaging.

The consumers say that they were deceived by Walmart’s labeling and would not have purchased the product, or would have paid less for it, had they known it contained artificial ingredients.

“Plaintiffs saw and relied on the ‘No artificial flavors’ and ‘No artificial preservatives’ claims on the front label of the Product,” the Great Value instant macaroni and cheese class action says. “Plaintiffs would not have purchased the Product, or would have paid less for the Product, had they known that the Product contains an artificial flavoring and preserving ingredient in direct contradiction to the ‘No artificial flavors’ and ‘No artificial preservatives’ statements on the Product’s front label.”

The lawsuit seeks to represent a nationwide class of consumers who purchased the product.

 The plaintiffs are suing for violations of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act and Unfair Competition Law, as well as breach of express warranty. They are seeking compensatory and statutory damages, disgorgement and restitution, punitive damages and attorneys’ fees and costs.

Just last year, an Illinois federal judge declined to throw out a class action lawsuit filed against The Kraft Heinz Co. and Kraft Heinz Ingredients Corp. over claims the company falsely marketed a variety of macaroni and cheese products as free of artificial flavors, preservatives and dyes. 

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

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

The Walmart class action lawsuit is Kaitlyn Taylor, et al. v. Walmart Inc., Case No. 5:25-cv-00186, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.


Don’t Miss Out!

Check out our list of Class Action Lawsuits and Class Action Settlements you may qualify to join!


Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

We tell you about cash you can claim EVERY WEEK! Sign up for our free newsletter.

381 thoughts onWalmart class action claims Great Value mac and cheese contains artificial ingredients

  1. Shannon Marie Quinn says:

    Please add me. Im in Pennsylvania

  2. Carla Lowery says:

    please add me to all these class, action lawsuits against Walmart and their great value products, especially the macaroni and cheese, cheese and broccoli florettes as I am a heavy consumer of these items

  3. Zee says:

    Add me

    1. Robert Florence says:

      I agree

  4. Shauna ford says:

    Ate my fair share unknowingly

  5. Samantha says:

    Bought lots of this

    1. Robert Florence says:

      12/29/2025

  6. Katrina says:

    Add me

    1. Jessica Rush says:

      I am a grandmother and on a budget and I purchase Walmart brands often. I didn’t know I was purchasing imitation cheese.

1 33 34 35

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. By submitting your comment and contact information, you agree to receive marketing emails from Top Class Actions regarding this and/or similar lawsuits or settlements, and/or to be contacted by an attorney or law firm to discuss the details of your potential case at no charge to you if you qualify. Required fields are marked *

Please note: Top Class Actions is not a settlement administrator or law firm. Top Class Actions is a legal news source that reports on class action lawsuits, class action settlements, drug injury lawsuits and product liability lawsuits. Top Class Actions does not process claims and we cannot advise you on the status of any class action settlement claim. You must contact the settlement administrator or your attorney for any updates regarding your claim status, claim form or questions about when payments are expected to be mailed out.