Veggie Straws Maker Faces Consumer Fraud Class Action Lawsuit

Filed by John Solak and Jim Figge in New York Federal court, the proposed class action states the marketing for the Veggie Straws leads consumers to believe that the products are made of vegetables such as potatoes, tomatoes and spinach. However, in reality, the lawsuit states, the five main ingredients are actually potato starch, potato flour, corn starch, tomato paste and spinach powder. Therefore, the plaintiffs allege Veggie Straws do not contain the nutritional benefits associated with whole vegetables.

“Although defendant markets the Garden Veggie Straws as healthful and nutritious, defendant’s product is devoid of the health benefits plaintiffs and other reasonable consumers associate with consuming real ripe vegetable produce or products,” the complaint states.

The lawsuit states that the Veggie Straw’s packaging shows whole tomatoes, spinach and potatoes, but contains 0 percent of the recommended amount of Vitamin A and only 2 percent of the recommended amount of Vitamin C. Lay’s Classic potato chips, by comparison, contain 10 percent of the recommended daily amount of Vitamin C, the plaintiffs assert.

“Although the marketing and labeling of the Garden Veggie Straws depicts whole tomatoes, spinach leaves and potatoes, and separately claims those vegetables are ‘garden grown’ and ‘ripe,’ there are no garden grown or ripe vegetables in the Garden Veggie Straws,” the lawsuit states. “Instead, the Vegetable Straws contain highly processed by products of what were once vegetables, and with respect to tomatoes and spinach, only contain trace amounts of those by products upon information and belief.”

The plaintiffs claim that Hain Celestial’s misrepresentation of the Veggie Straws plays on consumers’ desire to eat healthy snacks, enabling the company to charge higher prices and increase company profits.

The named plaintiffs, Solak and Figger, seek to represent a class of US consumers who purchased the products within the past six years. Further, Solak seeks to represent a subclass of people who purchased the products in New York, and Figger seeks to represent a California subclass.

The plaintiffs are represented by Sergei Lemberg of Lemberg Law LLC.

The suit is John Solak & Jim Figger v. The Hain Celestial Group Inc., case number 3:17-cv-00704 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.

Legal Help

If you or a loved one has suffered similar damages or injuries, please fill in our form on the right and your complaint will be sent to a consumer frauds lawyer who may evaluate your claim at no cost or obligation.