Lawsuit Claims Newman's Own Pasta Sauces Contain Synthetic Ingredients

Newman’s Own, Inc. is the defendant in a proposed class action filed in New York that alleges the charitable food maker’s extensive lineup of pasta sauces are fraudulently advertised and marketed as “100% natural.” The 31-page complaint says Newman’s Own unlawfully claims its products are made entirely with natural ingredients when they actually contain non-natural, chemically processed ingredients like citric acid.

“Newman’s Own is an example of a manufacturer who has sought to exploit the market for natural products,” the lawsuit wages.

The plaintiff behind the suit claims the defendant’s inaccurate use of the term “natural” to describe its products is not only misleading, but also takes advantage of consumers’ “strong preference” for natural foods and therefore “creates consumer confusion.”

In addition to any other Newman’s Own pasta sauces that contain citric acid, the lawsuit focuses on the following:

According to the suit, citric acid undergoes various chemical processes before it’s added to foods and therefore “cannot be reasonably considered a natural ingredient.”

The lawsuit is proposed to cover a nationwide class of consumers in the United States who purchased any of the abovementioned products, as well as a New York-specific subclass.