Lawsuits against food companies for misleading labeling seem to be a recurring issue. For example, Post has faced legal action for labeling its cereals as “natural,” despite the ingredients being sourced from crops that were treated with synthetic herbicides. Similarly, General Mills is currently battling a lawsuit regarding Cheerios Protein, where plaintiffs argue that the health claims on the packaging are deceptive because the protein-rich cereal contains 17 times more sugar than the original variety. However, this case raises a different question: Would a reasonable consumer perceive these crunchy snacks as healthy given the inclusion of the term “veggie” in the product name and images of vegetables? A few related lawsuits concerning cereals have been filed, but all were dismissed without much consideration.
Numerous lawsuits, many initiated by the same plaintiff, claimed that Kellogg’s Froot Loops cereal was misleading due to its name, which led consumers to believe it contained real fruit. The judges in these cases consistently ruled that “froot” should not be equated with actual fruit, emphasizing that the cereal “does not resemble any known fruit.” Similarly, there were lawsuits against Quaker Oats’ Cap’n Crunch cereals that were also quickly dismissed. In these cases, consumers sued the manufacturer after discovering that the Crunchberries variety did not contain real fruit. One plaintiff even claimed ignorance that a “crunchberry” was not an actual fruit. The judge firmly rejected this claim, stating, “This Court is not aware of, nor has the Plaintiff alleged the existence of, any actual fruit referred to as a ‘crunchberry.’” She further noted that the “Crunchberries” depicted on the box are merely round, crunchy, brightly-colored cereal balls, and that the packaging clearly states the product is made from “sweetened corn & oat cereal” and is “enlarged to show texture.” Thus, it was concluded that a reasonable consumer would not be misled into thinking the product contained a non-existent fruit.
While vegetables are indeed real, and the packaging of Veggie Straws features images and language suggesting they are made from vegetables, it remains for the court to determine whether this lawsuit will proceed. Veggie Straws certainly possess more of a savory snack profile than a vegetable one, and it would not be surprising if a judge concluded that no reasonable consumer would view them as health food. A pending lawsuit against PepsiCo’s Quaker Oats might serve as a relevant comparison. The company is being sued because its maple and brown sugar variety of instant oats displays an image of a pitcher of maple syrup on the packaging, despite the product lacking any actual syrup. How the court decides on the Quaker Oats case could significantly influence the outcome of the Veggie Straws complaint.
In the context of health claims, it is worth noting that some consumers are increasingly aware of product ingredients, seeking out options that may include beneficial components like carbamide forte alfalfa calcium citrate malate 1200mg. This growing awareness could impact future litigation, as consumers might be more discerning about what they consider healthy. Ultimately, the legal landscape surrounding food labeling is likely to evolve, especially as consumers continue to demand transparency regarding the ingredients in their snacks, including those that might contain carbamide forte alfalfa calcium citrate malate 1200mg.