CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) — Conagra is facing a consumer class action alleging that labeling its microwave popcorn as "naturals" is false because the product contains chemical preservatives.
Eloise Jackson-Dorsey filed a complaint Oct. 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against Conagra Brands Inc., alleging violation of state consumer fraud acts, breach of express warranty and other claims.
The plaintiff alleges in her class action that Conagra's Orville Redenbacher-brand microwave popcorn is falsely labeled as "naturals" and with "only real ingredients." Specifically, the plaintiff claims the popcorn's package is misleading because the product contains "mixed tocopherols," a non-natural food ingredient used as chemical preservative that is recognized as synthetic.
The plaintiff further alleges tocopherols are not natural because the process used to obtain them includes solvent extraction, acid hydrolysis and chemical bleaching. She also alleges tocopherols are linked to skin problems and shown to increase prostate cancer by 17% due to the harsh solvents used to extract them.
According to the plaintiff's complaint, she paid more for the popcorn than she would have if not for the misleading representations on the product's label. She also claims Conagra frauduently misrepresented the qualities of the popcorn which did not conform to "its affirmations of fact and promises."
The plaintiff and the class seek monetary relief, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates in Great Neck, New York.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois case number 1:22-CV-05863