Class action lawsuit claims Idahoan falsely advertises butter content
That cozy “butter” label on your instant mashed potatoes might be doing a lot more marketing than actual cooking. A new lawsuit out of Idaho claims some instant mashed potatoes labeled “with butter” barely contain any meaningful amount of it.
At the center of the lawsuit is Idahoan Foods, the brand behind those quick, just-add-water mashed potato packs.
The packaging says things like “Butter & Herb” and “Russet Potatoes with Butter & Parsley”
It sounds like butter is a main ingredient. But according to the lawsuit, not quite.
The plaintiff argues the amount of butter in the mix is basically “de minimus,” meaning it is so small it barely counts.
“In fact, butter is listed after other additives, such as ‘Mono- and Diglycerides, [and] Calcium Stearoyl Lactylate,’ present in an amount only greater than ‘Spice,’” the lawsuit claims.
So, it does not exactly have the rich, buttery base the front label suggests.
The issue goes beyond taste, as the lawsuit argues the “butter” label makes shoppers think it’s the main fat, thus appealing to people avoiding processed oils. It also justifies the higher price of around $1.49 per pack.
This is becoming a pattern
This case is not happening in isolation. Another lawsuit is targeting Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream over fruit bars marketed as “made with real fruit.” According to the lawsuit, the fruit bars are packed with added sugar and artificial ingredients.
It turns out there might be a lot of white lies in many of the “Made with…,” “Infused with…,” and “Flavored with…” labels.
And when you think about it, many people don’t flip bags over in the grocery aisle to check through the list of ingredients. Instant food already lives in that “don’t overthink it” zone so seeing some labels and claims just feel calming. But lawsuits like this are slowly exposing the lie.
So, the next time you go grocery shopping, don’t be carried away by the noise on the front of the package. Check the actual ingredient list to be sure what you are basing your purchase decision on is not just a background character.
Source: Top Class Actions
