Class Action Lawsuit Claims Protein Content of Ora Organic Daily Superfood Supplements Is Falsely Advertised

New to ClassAction.org? Read our Newswire Disclaimer

A proposed class action lawsuit alleges the maker of Ora Organic Daily Superfood has falsely advertised the products by systematically misrepresenting the quality and quantity of protein in the supplements.

Want to stay in the loop on class action lawsuits that matter to you? Sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter.

According to the 25-page lawsuit, although manufacturer Vital Amine claims that its Ora Organic Daily Superfood protein supplements contain 23 grams of protein per dose, this information is not accompanied by any disclaimer as to the actual amount of protein per dose that is digestible and usable by the human body. The company’s protein claims are also without a marker indicating what percentage of an average daily protein intake this amount comprises, the suit says.

“Specifically, Defendant’s Products are comprised of vegan protein sources that do not provide the same nutritional benefits as whey protein,” the complaint summarizes, alleging Vital Amine “misleads consumers into believing that the Products provide more protein than they actually do.”

According to the suit, the protein sources in the Ora Organic supplements at issue are a series of incomplete proteins, including peas, sacha inchi, rice, amaranth and quinoa. This means that none of the individual ingredients contain a complete amino acid profile like complete proteins such as whey, beef and whole soy, the filing explains.

While peas and rice could theoretically be combined into a complete profile, the ratio needed to accomplish this isn’t present in the supplements, the case contends. Due to the lack of a complete amino acid profile, the total amount of protein in the Ora Organic supplements is not the same as the total amount of protein usable by the body once ingested, the lawsuit states.

The FDA requires that the total amount of usable protein—calculated as a “Protein Digestibility Corrected Amino Acid Score” (PDCAAS)—in a product be displayed on the nutrition facts panel in all cases where the total amount of protein and PDCAAS are not the same, the suit shares. This adjusted number is written as a percent daily value (%DV), obtained by dividing the amount of usable protein in grams by the average daily reference value of 50 grams, the filing states.

Despite lacking the complete amino acid profile necessary for a 100% PDCAAS score, there is no percent daily value statement expressing this in the nutrition facts panel on any of the Ora Organic Daily Superfood protein supplement products, the lawsuit says.

Because of this, an average consumer, who most likely does not know the necessity or process of calculating for PDCAAS, will take Vital Amine, the supplement producer, at their word and trust that the advertised 23g of protein in the supplement is all usable by their body even though this isn’t true, the case argues.

The lawsuit alleges that Vital Amine is fully aware that claims of high protein content are of interest to consumers and a considerable factor in an average person’s food and supplement purchasing decisions. The case alleges the defendant is intentionally employing facetious claims about their product’s protein content on their packaging to drive sales.

The class action lawsuit against Vital Amine seeks to represent anyone in the U.S. who has purchased Vital Amine’s Ora Organic Daily Superfood protein supplements.

Want to stay in the loop on class action lawsuits that matter to you? Sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter.