Naked Juice to Pay Customers $75 Each for Selling Mislabeled GMO Juice
As part of the ruling that found PepsiCo’s Naked Juice brand violated state and federal laws and consumer protection statutes over false marketing claims, customers who purchased the products may receive as much as $75 as part of the settlement.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, claimed that Naked Juice misrepresented its product offerings by labeling them as “all-natural” when several of the products contained synthetic and genetically modified organisms. PepsiCo agreed to a $9 million settlement over the use of genetically modified soy and synthetic fiber (a product made by Archer Daniels Midland) that is added to products including the popular Green Machine flavor. Naked Juice must also remove the term “natural” from the product labels, website, and other marketing materials.
The settlement website, NakedJuiceClass.com allows individuals who purchased the products in question between Sept. 27, 2007 and Aug. 19, 2013, including Green Machine, to submit a claim, whether or not they still have proof of purchase. “People who bought Naked Juice and still have a proof of purchase are entitled to a cash payment of up to $75 while those without proof are eligible for up to $45, depending on how much you spent on Naked Juice,” reports ABC News.
In a statement released by Naked Juice, the company said it was pleased about reaching the agreement. “Our juices and smoothies are made with all-natural fruits and vegetables—with no added sugar and no preservatives,” the company said. “In some products, we also include an added boost of vitamins. Naked juice and smoothies will continue to be labeled ‘non-GMO,’ and until there is more detailed regulatory guidance around the word ‘natural’ ―we’ve chosennot to use ‘All Natural’ on our packaging.”
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