ST. LOUIS (Legal Newsline) – Schwan’s has removed a class action lawsuit against it to federal court as it fights allegations its pizzas aren’t as natural as it claims.
Haleigh Darsonval filed her case June 18 in St. Louis City Circuit Court, alleging Schwan’s is wrong to claim its Consumer Brands pizzas are “preservative free” and have “no artificial flavors.”
The lawsuit says the pizzas contain Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Modified Rice Starch and Modified Corn Starch, among other ingredients that allegedly violate those “natural” claims.
“Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate and Enzymes work in combination as an anti-staling agent in breads to preserve the softness of the crust during the product’s shelf life,” complains the lawsuit.
Schwan’s removed the case to St. Louis federal court on Aug. 3. Darsonval’s lawyers attempted to keep the case out of federal court by claiming the amount in question was “far less” than the $5 million threshold that gives jurisdiction to federal courts under the Class Action Fairness Act.
She is represented by the Armstrong Law Firm of St. Louis and Steckler Gresham Cochran in Dallas.