A new lawsuit is putting a spotlight on Kellogg's promise of "zero added sugar" in some of its Special K cereals.
The brand now faces a proposed class action in California over claims that some cereals were marketed in a way that could mislead shoppers.
Here's what to know
The dispute centers on the syrup allulose. Plaintiff Ari Bender-Long alleges that Kellogg's promoted certain Special K cereals with "Zero Added Sugar" and "0g Added Sugar" claims despite including that ingredient, which is a monosaccharide and therefore a sugar under federal and California labeling standards, according to Top Class Actions.
Bender-Long is seeking to represent California consumers who purchased any Special K cereals sold with zero-added-sugar messaging, according to Top Class Actions. He says that these zero-sugar claims caused him to pay a premium and that he would have made a different purchase decision if he had known allulose was included.
More background
The suit accuses Kellogg's of unjust enrichment and says the company violated California's Consumers Legal Remedies Act, False Advertising Law, and Unfair Competition Law, according to Top Class Actions.
Bender-Long is now asking for declaratory and injunctive relief, along with restitution and damages, for himself and all class members. He has also requested a jury trial.
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The Kellogg's case is one of many disputes over what product labels lead shoppers to believe about ingredients, value, and environmental claims. Other stories have looked at a lawsuit against Coca-Cola and pushback over labels tied to products sold at Target, among several others.
• Coca-Cola faces a false advertising lawsuit over allegedly misleading soda ingredient claims.
• SheaMoisture's "100% Virgin Coconut Oil" label came under fire for a product that isn't made mostly or even primarily from coconut oil.
• At Target, a TikToker highlighted everyday products with labels that can blur the truth.
These cases keep the spotlight on the fine print and the promises companies make on packaging. When a label makes a specific claim, even a few words can (and should) invite scrutiny.
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