Target’s Good & Gather Pasta Sauces Not as Preservative-Free as Advertised, Class Action Says

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges Target has misled consumers by advertising its Good & Gather pasta sauces as preservative-free, even though the products contain the common preservative citric acid. 

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The 30-page Target lawsuit says that despite the prominent front-label claim that Good & Gather pasta sauces have “No Artificial Colors, Flavors, or Preservatives,” the items contain citric acid, an ingredient commonly used as a preservative in food products. The case argues that the alleged misrepresentation is meant to entice health-conscious consumers in search of items that are free from artificial ingredients and additives. 

The false advertising suit challenges the preservative-free claims featured on each Good & Gather pasta sauce variety, including, at least: 

• Good & Gather Marinara;
• Good & Gather Traditional;
• Good & Gather Tomato and Basil;
• Good & Gather Garden Combo;
• Good & Gather Mushroom; and
• Good & Gather Organic Three Cheese. 

According to the complaint, the products at issue are made with a synthetic, heavily processed form of citric acid, which is plainly identified by the Food and Drug Administration as a preservative and acts as such by helping prevent microbial growth and oxidation. 

The filing contends that the pasta sauces’ labeling is misleading because citric acid functions as a preservative regardless of whether it is added to the products for a different purpose. 

As the case tells it, consumers would not have paid as much for the Good & Gather pasta sauces at issue, or purchased them at all, had they known the items are actually made with an artificial preservative. 

The lawsuit looks to represent anyone in California who purchased any of the products listed on this page for personal use within the applicable statute of limitations period. 

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