La Terra Fina USA, LLC makes a line of dips and spreads. On the labels are the words, “No Artificial Flavors, Colors, or Preservatives.” But the complaint alleges that certain of these dips and spreads do in fact contain an artificial preservative—citric acid.
The class for this action is all current Missouri citizens who bought the “La Terra Fina” brand dips and spreads listed below, for personal, family, or household use, between April 1, 2017 and April 1, 2022:
- Artichoke & Jalapeño Dip & Spread
- Cheesy Artichoke Dip & Spread
- Chili Con Queso Dip
- Everything But The Bagel Dip & Spread
- Greek Yogurt Spinach & Parmesan Dip & Spread
- Greek Yogurt Spinach Artichoke & Parmesan Dip & Spread
- Green Chile & Cheese Dip & Spread
- Mexicali Dip & Spread
- Spinach Artichoke & Parmesan Dip & Spread
- Sriracha Three Cheese Dip & Spread
But isn’t citric acid found in fruits like oranges and lemons? The complaint alleges, “While citric acid may be found naturally in citrus fruits, food-grade citric acid is a commercially-manufactured, synthetically-produced, highly-processed food additive used in processed foods primarily as a pH adjuster to induce tart flavor and control the growth of microorganisms, i.e., a flavor agent and/or a preservative.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) itself considers citric acid to be a synthetic ingredient.
The complaint therefore claims that the presence of citric acid in the products therefore makes the “No Artificial Flavors, Colors, or Preservatives” representation “unfair, false, deceptive, and misleading.”
According to the complaint, consumers increasingly want to buy products that are natural and that do not contain synthetic ingredients or artificial flavors that might be harmful to human beings. The complaint asserts, “By affixing such a label to the packaging of the Dips, [La Terra Fina] can entice consumers … to pay a premium price for the Dips or pay more for them than they otherwise would have had the truth [been] known.”
The complaint alleges that the representations violate the Missouri Merchandising Practices Act (MMPA), which forbids “any deception, fraud, false pretense, false promise, misrepresentation, unfair practice or the concealment, suppression, or omission of any material fact about the sale or advertisement of any merchandise in trade or commerce.” It therefore claims that the dips and spreads “were worth less than they were represented to be…”
The counts include violations of the MMPA, or, in the alternative, breach of express warranty and unjust enrichment.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
La Terra Fina Dips Contain Artificial Preservative Missouri Complaint
April 1, 2022
La Terra Fina USA, LLC makes a line of dips and spreads. On the labels are the words, “No Artificial Flavors, Colors, or Preservatives.” But the complaint alleges that certain of these dips and spreads do in fact contain an artificial preservative—citric acid.
La Terra Fina Dips Contain Artificial Preservative Missouri ComplaintCase Event History
La Terra Fina Dips Contain Artificial Preservative Missouri Complaint
April 1, 2022
La Terra Fina USA, LLC makes a line of dips and spreads. On the labels are the words, “No Artificial Flavors, Colors, or Preservatives.” But the complaint alleges that certain of these dips and spreads do in fact contain an artificial preservative—citric acid.
La Terra Fina Dips Contain Artificial Preservative Missouri Complaint