Kellogg sued for false advertising in local lawsuit

Photo from 'Tsar Kasim' via Flickr

Love Nutri-Grain Bars because they are the “healthy” snack choice?

Well, it turns out Nutri-Grain bars may not be a good decision for your health after all. In a lawsuit filed in San Diego county yesterday,  individuals are suing Kellogg for falsely advertising their product. Nutri-Grain Bars, which advertise to be healthy, actually contain potentially dangerous, unhealthy trans fat.

Many Americans are trying to “Eat Better All Day” by purchasing Nutri-Grain Bars. The bars contain whole grains, which Kellogg claims reduce hunger cravings and improve blood sugar control. However, as was revealed in the San Diego Courthouse, the bar—that claims to contain ingredients that reduce the risk of heart disease–also contains artificial trans fat, which studies show can actually contribute to heart disease, cancer and diabetes.

According to the class action in the San Diego Federal Court, trans fat is so unhealthy that it’s being banned in several American states and European countries. In fact, California banned trans fat in restaurant products back in 2008.

They claim several San Diego and Los Angeles county citizens have been negatively impacted as a result of the Nutri-Grain bars and the false claims about their health effects. Plaintiffs were avid consumers of this Kellogg product, but claim they would not have purchased them if they had known it contained artificial trans fat. The San Diego plaintiffs want Kellogg to conduct a “corrective advertising campaign” and “cease marketing its products using the misleading tactics.”

The summary in the class action in the San Diego Federal Court concluded that “the grave, concrete risks of artificial trans fat consumption far outweigh any conceivable benefits of Kellogg’s conduct.” The summary also states that people should keep their consumption of trans fat “as low as possible.”

Kellogg Company and Kellogg Sales Co. are being sued for violations of The Lanham Act, Unfair Competition Law, Common law of Unfair Competition, False Advertising Law, and the Consumer Legal Remedies Act.

So if you eat Nutri-Grain bars, you may want to review the ingredients before you chow down. It’s a good idea to know what is in the food you’re eating, regardless of any correct or misleading advertising campaigns.