Class Action Claims Great Value Oats & Honey Granola Bars Contain Less Honey Than Represented

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A proposed class action alleges Walmart’s Great Value-brand “Oats & Honey” granola bars are falsely advertised in that they contain only a trace amount of honey amid “numerous other ingredients.”

According to the 16-page lawsuit, consumers who view the granola bars’ front label statements—including “Oats & Honey – Crunchy Granola Bars,” “Crunchy Oats … Sweet Honey,” “Made With Whole Grains” and “19g Whole Grain Per Serving”—are led to expect that the product is sweetened primarily with honey and contains minimal ingredients other than oats and honey.

The suit alleges, however, that these representations are false and misleading given that the Great Value granola bars are sweetened primarily with sugar and contain a “negligible” amount of honey, among various other ingredients.

“Consumers relying on the front label will be satisfied that whole grain oats are the main ingredient but will be dissatisfied honey is a minor ingredient, especially compared to the amount of sugar,” the complaint contends.

Per the suit, consumers increasingly prefer foods sweetened with honey over sugar due to perceptions that honey is more natural and healthier than sugar. According to the complaint, the Great Value Oats & Honey ingredients list reveals that sugar is the second-most predominant ingredient after whole grain rolled oats, while honey is listed fifth.

The lawsuit goes on to claim that although Walmart showcases only oats and honey on the granola bars’ front label—a representation that the case says “dovetails with increased consumer demand for foods with limited, fewer ingredients”—the product contains various other ingredients besides oats and honey. Per the suit, there is “no commercial or technological barrier” to making a granola bar that contains only oats and honey.

The lawsuit claims consumers have overpaid for the Great Value Oats & Honey granola bars as a result of Walmart’s misrepresentations.

The case looks to represent anyone in New York, Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Kentucky, West Virginia, North Dakota, Mississippi and Utah who purchased the Great Value Oats & Honey granola bars within the applicable statute of limitations period.

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