ORLANDO, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Class action lawyers are concerning themselves with the apple filling in breakfast bars sold at Target.
A lawsuit was filed Dec. 6 against Target Corporation in the United States District Court for Middle District of Florida. The plaintiff, Victoria Wilcox, filed a complaint that revolves around consumer avoidance of artificial flavors in food products sold by Target.
According to sources cited in the lawsuit, there is a growing concern among consumers about artificial ingredients in their food. Surveys suggest that more than 80% of Americans believe foods with artificial flavor are less healthy than those with only natural flavors. The absence of artificial flavors is very important for more than 40% of respondents to Nielsen's Global Health & Wellness Survey, the suit says.
The legal background provided in the document traces back to the Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, which established laws to ensure that consumers get what they pay for. These requirements were further strengthened when Congress adopted the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) in 1938.
Wilcox alleges that Target Corporation violated these laws by using synthetic substances as substitutes for natural ingredients without disclosing this information to consumers. Chief among these is malic acid.
The plaintiff is represented by William Wright of Florida and Spencer Sheehan of New York.