A federal judge on Nov. 13 ordered Kraft Heinz to face a proposed nationwide class action lawsuit over allegedly defrauding consumers by falsely labeling its macaroni and cheese as a product with “no artificial preservatives.”
U.S. District Judge Mary Rowland for the Northern District of Illinois rejected the company’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit brought by consumers from Illinois, California, and New York.
David Hayes, Kamilah Galbreth, and Taylor Ambroisno allege that Kraft Macaroni and Cheese products contain ingredients such as a synthetic form of citric acid, sodium phosphate, and/or sodium triphosphate.
The judge said the plaintiffs specifically alleged that the ingredients functioned as preservatives, making Kraft Heinz’s claim of “No Artificial Flavors, Preservatives or Dyes” on labels false, and cited academic studies and U.S. Food and Drug Administration guidance to support their case….