Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars Not as ‘Wholesome’ as Advertised, Class Action Suit Claims

New to ClassAction.org? Read our Newswire Disclaimer

A proposed class action lawsuit claims that Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars are not as wholesome as advertised, given that they contain an “excessive” amount of sugar and synthetic citric acid.

Get class action lawsuit and class action settlement news sent to your inbox – sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter.

The 21-page false advertising lawsuit contends that consumers are led to believe that the fig bars are a healthy alternative to other snacks due to their promotion as “wholesome.”  The case says that the “wholesome” representation can be found on product packaging and in advertising and promotional materials, which the suit argues “…puts forth a straightforward, material message: the Products are healthy to consume.”

The “wholesome” claim is further reinforced by the defendant’s name, Nature’s Bakery, which leads consumers to believe that its fig bars are made only of natural, healthy ingredients, the suit says.

However, the lawsuit alleges that the “wholesome” representation is misleading due to the fig bars’ high sugar content and the inclusion of synthetic citric acid as an ingredient.

According to the complaint, Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars contain more than 14 grams of added sugar per serving, constituting roughly 28 percent of the total calories per bar. The amount of added sugar in the fig bars is over five times the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendation for a healthy diet, the case notes.

“Because scientific evidence establishes that consuming such high amounts of added sugar is likely to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, metabolic disease, and liver disease, Nature’s Bakery’s health and wellness representations concerning the Products are false and misleading,” the filing argues.

Similarly, the case takes issue with the “natural” promotions for the fig bars given the presence of synthetic citric acid, which supposedly is “no longer commercially available” in its natural form due to its high cost, per the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.

The suit explains that synthetic citric acid, a common food preservative, is made through a multi-step fermentation and composition process. The Food and Drug Administration has determined that, in light of the manufacturing process for the ingredient, the citric acid variety found in the fig bars is synthetic, not natural.

The complaint alleges that consumption of synthetic citric acid has been linked to health problems such as inflammation, asthma, juvenile idiopathic arthritis and autism spectrum disorder.

The class action lawsuit alleges Nature’s Bakery has “profited enormously” from the misleading “wholesome” claim.

“[Nature’s Bakery] makes these natural claims in an effort to capitalize on the growing market for natural products,” the complaint claims. “Health-conscious consumers are willing to pay a price premium for products labeled and advertised as natural because they believe that such products are safer and/or healthier to consume.”

The Nature’s Bakery class action lawsuit seeks to represent all consumers in the United States who, during the maximum period of time allowed by law, purchased Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars for personal or household consumption and not for resale.

Check out ClassAction.org’s lawsuit list for current class action lawsuits and investigations.