SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — Kraft is facing a consumer class action lawsuit alleging its Crystal Light drink mixes are falsely labeled as having natural flavors.
Peggy Tatum on behalf of herself and all others similarly situated, filed a complaint Nov. 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against The Kraft Heinz Company and Kraft Heinz Foods Company LLC alleging negligent misrepresentation, fraud, violation of state consumer protection laws and other claims.
Tatum alleges in her class action that Kraft falsely labels its Crystal Light drink mixes as if they are flavored with "natural flavor" and fails to disclose the product's artificial flavoring agents. She claims the labels conceal the fact that the drink mixes contain artificial flavoring chemicals "that simulate the advertised natural flavors" and give consumers a false impression they are buying a "premium all natural product."
Tatum further claims Kraft fails to follow the legally required disclosures and that the malic acid in the mixes is a synthetic chemical manufactured in factories from petroleum feedstocks. She alleges that Kraft's use of "pure" on the product labels also deceptively leads consumers to believe there is no artificial ingredients and violates federal regulations and state laws.
Tatum and the class seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Kevin Ruf and Marc Godino of Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP in Los Angeles and David Elliot and Michael Dobbs of The Elliot Law Office PC in San Diego.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California case number 4:22-CV-07180-TLT