Are Pret A Manger products really “natural” as advertised? The complaint for this class action says that they are not because they contain a contaminant and other non-natural or synthetic ingredients. The complaint brings suit under New York state laws and for breaches of warranties.
The class for this action is all consumers who bought the products at issue anywhere in the US during the class period. A New York subclass has also been proposed.
Consumers are increasingly reluctant to consumer foods with synthetic ingredients or contaminants, the complaint says, so that they are willing to pay more for foods that claim to be “natural” and therefore presumably pure and healthy.
Pret A Manger (known sometimes simply as “Pret”) bills its food as being natural; in fact, the complaint reproduces its logo, which includes the name “Pret” on top of a star, in a circle formed by the words, “Organic Coffee” and “Natural Food.” It also shows signage advertising “Freshly prepared, good, natural food” and products with labels proclaiming they are made with “natural ingredients.”
However, the complaint says that the products actually contain a number of non-natural ingredients. One of these is soya, a genetically-modified organism (GMO).
The complaint says that traces of glyphosate have been found in the food as well. Glyphosate is “a synthetic biocide,” more popularly known as a weed killer and found at times in products that contain grain grown in fields where it was used.
Further, the complaint claims that some of the products contain ingredients that are generally known as synthetics: maltodextrin, citric acid, lactic acid, and malic acid.
The sandwich bread, the complaint claims, contains “diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides, mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids, and ascorbic acid.”
The list of products at issue in this case is long:
- Pret Salt & Vinegar Chips
- Pret BBQ Chips
- Pure Pret Ginger Beer
- Pret Cheddar and Tomato Sandwich
- Pret Balsamic Chicken & Avocado Sandwich
- Pret California Club Sandwich
- Pret Chicken & Bacon Sandwich
- Pret Egg Salad & Arugula Sandwich
- Pret Tuna Salad Sandwich
- Pret Turkey & Pesto Sandwich
- Pret Chicken Caesar & Bacon on Artisan Sandwich
- Pret Ham & Cheese Sandwich
- Pret Bang Bang Chicken Wrap
- Pret Chicken Bacon & Ranch Wrap
- Pret Chef’s Salad
- Pret Chicken Caesar Salad
- Pret’s Cuban Sandwich
- Pret’s BBQ Pulled Pork Hot Wrap
- Pret’s Ham & Cheddar Grilled Cheese
- Pret’s Blueberry Muffin
- Pret’s Carrot Cake Cookie
- Pret’s Chocolate Brownie Cookie
- Pret’s Chocolate Chunk Cookie
- Pret’s Chocolate Hazelnut Croissant
- Pret’s Energy Bagel
- Pret’s Pan Au Chocolate
Topic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Pret A Manger “Natural” Food False Advertising Complaint
March 15, 2019
Are Pret A Manger products really “natural” as advertised? The complaint for this class action says that they are not because they contain a contaminant and other non-natural or synthetic ingredients. The complaint brings suit under New York state laws and for breaches of warranties.
pret_a_manger_22natural22_claims_compl.pdfCase Event History
Pret A Manger “Natural” Food False Advertising Complaint
March 15, 2019
Are Pret A Manger products really “natural” as advertised? The complaint for this class action says that they are not because they contain a contaminant and other non-natural or synthetic ingredients. The complaint brings suit under New York state laws and for breaches of warranties.
pret_a_manger_22natural22_claims_compl.pdf