Kraft Heinz faces class action lawsuit alleging mac-and-cheese fraud

A national justice said Kraft Heinz KHC.O indispensable look a projected nationwide people enactment alleging that it defrauded consumers by claiming its Kraft macaroni and cheese, 1 of its best-known products, contains nary artificial preservatives.

In a determination connected Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland said the Illinois, California and New York consumers starring the suit plausibly alleged that Kraft Mac & Cheese contained a synthetic signifier of citric acerb that differed from the earthy variety, and besides contained sodium phosphates.

The Chicago-based justice said the plaintiffs specifically alleged that the ingredients functioned arsenic preservatives, making Kraft Heinz’s assertion of “No Artificial Flavors, Preservatives oregon Dyes” connected labels false, and cited world studies and U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance to enactment their case.

“These allegations are capable to withstand a question to dismiss,” she wrote.

Rowland agreed with Kraft Heinz that the plaintiffs lacked lasting to request caller labels due to the fact that they are present alert of its alleged deceptive practices and look nary hazard of aboriginal harm.

In seeking a dismissal, Kraft Heinz said determination were nary factual allegations that it utilized artificial preservatives successful its “iconic” Mac & Cheese, oregon that tenable consumers would presumption its ingredients arsenic artificial.

Kraft Heinz maintained connected Thursday that its Mac & Cheese contains nary artificial flavors, preservatives oregon dyes.

“We basal afloat down our merchandise and are arrogant of its quality,” the institution said. “We powerfully judge that this suit has nary merit and look guardant to our time successful court.”

Trending Now

Lawyers for the plaintiffs did not instantly respond to requests for comment.

The plaintiffs are seeking damages for fraud, unjust enrichment, and violations of authorities user extortion laws.

Their suit is 1 of galore challenging the accuracy oregon precision of nutrient labels.

In July 2023, a Miami national justice dismissed a suit accusing Kraft Heinz of understating however agelong it took to hole microwaveable Velveeta macaroni and cheese.

Kraft Heinz is based successful Chicago and Pittsburgh. Berkshire Hathaway owns 26.9% of its stock.

The lawsuit is Hayes et al v. Kraft Heinz Co, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, No. 23-16596.

—Reporting by Jonathan Stempel successful New York; Editing by Rod Nickel and Muralikumar Anantharaman