Splenda class action lawsuit overview:ย
- Who: A federal judge in California denied a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed against the makers of Splenda, TC Heartland LLC.ย
- Why: The judge determined consumers have standing for claims TC Heartland falsely advertised Splenda as a sugar alternative with health benefits.ย
- Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.ย
A California federal judge denied a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed against the maker of Splenda over claims their sugar alternative product was falsely advertised as having health benefits.ย
The class action lawsuit claims TC Heartland LLC engaged in consumer fraud by marketing Splenda as having health benefits. However, the sugar alternative allegedly uses sucralose as a primary ingredient. Sucralose is a chemical the class action argues is harmful to diabetics.ย
TC Heartland, meanwhile, argued, among other things, that the claims were preempted by the FDAโs determination โregarding the safety of sucralose.โ Furthermore, they state the lawsuit relies on a โcherry-pickedโ collection of studies that donโt actually support the claim sucralose is unsafe.ย
The judge determined, however that the claims made under state laws were not preempted by federal law.ย
In an order denying the motion to dismiss, the judge said, โThe Court agrees with plaintiffs that the FDA regulations cited by TC Heartland do not preempt plaintiffsโ state law claims.โย
Splenda purchasers have standing to bring claims, judge rules
The class action lawsuit was filed last year by a single plaintiff with type 2 diabetes. Law 360 reports that It was later amended to add three California residents, including another with type 2 diabetes, one who is pre-diabetic and one without diabetes.ย
TC Heartland argued none of the plaintiffs had standing to bring the claims since they werenโt physically harmed. However, the judge ruled they had standing since they claimed they would have paid less for the Splenda or not purchased it at allย
The judge stated, โPlaintiffs here have adequately alleged an economic injury and have Article III standing to assert their claims.โ
A consumer filed a separate class action lawsuit against TC Heartland in April over claims the company falsely labeled its Splenda Naturals Stevia Zero Calorie Sweetener product as โ100% natural.โย
Have you purchased Splenda artificial sweetener? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Bahar Sodaify, Shireen M. Clarkson, Alan Gudino and Ryan Ardi of Clarkson Law Firm PC.
The Splenda class action lawsuit is Prescott, et al. v. TC Heartland, LLC, Case No. 5:23-cv-04192, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
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647 thoughts onSplenda โdiabetesโ class action moves forward over false ad claims
Please add me! I have had type 2 Diabetes for many years and use Splenda every day ๐ก
Please add me
My husband has Type II diabetes and have used Splenda since its first sales. We both use it exclusively as we never even buy sugar. Please add me.
I have used splenda for years please add me to you casr
Weโve been using Splenda daily for years! I have type 2 diabetes and have been for a few years!
I stopped using โthe blueโ sugar substitute and only use Splenda everyday, all day. As a Type 2 diabetic for years and noted that BG levels are high than I would like them to be.
Yes my wife and I have used Splenda daily for years
I used Splenda everyday. I thought it was better for me than sugar. I started to use it before I developed Diabetes
Add me
Iโve been using splenda daily since it came out on the market. I am a diabetic.
Use it on a daily basis with my coffee thinking it was better to use than sugar?
My husband and I both have used Splenda for many years, probably 15 years as we have diabetes. Please add both of us