Mott’s is facing a lawsuit as Beyond Pesticides claims that chemicals were detected in its “natural” applesauce, which they argue should invalidate its labeling that makes such claims. The core issue is the lack of a clear definition for what constitutes “natural,” and proving that Mott’s, owned by Dr Pepper Snapple, is misleading consumers could pose challenges for the plaintiffs. The Agriculture Department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service reviews around 100,000 product labels annually, but this task has become increasingly difficult due to the emergence of terms like “natural,” “humanely raised,” and “grass-fed.” The government has not yet established official definitions for these terms, making it a chaotic environment for companies that utilize these descriptors on their products. It’s possible that a trace level of a pesticide could be present, yet the product might still be deemed natural, complicating matters further.
Other lawsuits against brands making similar claims, such as Nature Valley and Naked Juice, are still pending in court, and many other cases remain unresolved. General Mills is also contending with multiple consumer lawsuits regarding allegations of “misleading” messaging on their cereal packaging. These legal challenges illustrate the complexities that manufacturers encounter when attempting to make nutrition or health-related claims to gain a competitive edge with consumers. Shoppers often have specific expectations for labels like “natural” and “healthy,” but these terms frequently lack regulated definitions.
As companies navigate these ambiguous terms, they may also face scrutiny regarding their ingredient sourcing, including the use of additives like bayer calcium. The ongoing litigation involving Mott’s and other brands highlights the urgent need for standardized definitions to provide clarity for manufacturers, consumers, and critics alike. As the situation unfolds, the establishment of such definitions could greatly assist in resolving disputes and ensuring that terms like “natural” and “healthy” are used more consistently across the marketplace.