Frito-Lay Lawsuit Claims ‘100% Whole Grain’ SunChips Contain Highly Processed Refined Grain Maltodextrin

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A proposed class action lawsuit claims Frito-Lay has misled consumers by falsely advertising some of its SunChips snacks as “100% Whole Grain.”

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The 15-page Frito-Lay lawsuit alleges that despite the prominent “100% Whole Grain” representation featured on product packaging, one of the primary grain ingredients found in the chips is maltodextrin, a highly processed refined grain made from corn starch.

The class action suit challenges the “100% Whole Grain” label claim featured on bags of SunChips Original, SunChips Harvest Cheddar, SunChips Garden Salsa, SunChips Honey BBQ, SunChips French Onion, SunChips Peppercorn Ranch, SunChips Sweet Potato & Brown Sugar and SunChips Monterey Jack & Sundried Tomato.

According to the case, the whole-grain representation leads consumers to believe that all the grain ingredients found in the snacks are indeed whole grains, which, per the complaint, contain important proteins, vitamins, nutrients and certain healthy fats.

Maltodextrin is in no way considered a whole-grain ingredient, the lawsuit contends. The filing explains that highly refined grains such as maltodextrin lose many key nutrients, including approximately 25 percent of the grain’s natural protein, during processing.

The suit claims Frito-Lay has misrepresented SunChips in a bid to capitalize on the general belief that whole-grain products are healthier and more premium than items made with other types of grain ingredients.

The case argues that consumers would not have paid as much for the chips, or purchased them at all, had they known the snacks were not “100% Whole Grain,” as explicitly advertised.

The lawsuit looks to represent all California residents who, within the applicable statute of limitations period, purchased one or more of the SunChips products listed on this page.

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