Anne Bucher  |  August 19, 2014

Category: Consumer News

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Pure Via class action settlementOn Monday, plaintiffs filed a motion in support of preliminary approval of a class action settlement which would resolve allegations that Merisant Company and Whole Earth Sweetener Company LLC deceptively marketed their Pure Via products.

The Pure Via class action lawsuit, which was initially filed in January, alleged Merisant and Whole Earth labeled, advertised and marketed Pure Via as a natural sweetener that was primarily derived from the stevia plant. However, the plaintiff alleges that this labeling is false, deceptive and misleading. The class action lawsuit alleged the defendants breached warranties to consumers and violated consumer protection laws of 40 states and the District of Columbia.

Under the terms of the proposed Pure Via class action settlement, the defendants will pay $1.65 million to consumers who were allegedly misled by the product labeling. The defendants have also agreed to alter the labels to remove the allegedly misleading statements and make changes in their marketing and labeling. The revised labels will include a statement directing consumers to visit the Pure Via website to learn more about the ingredients. The defendants will update the website with significant additions about the ingredients and the process by which the products are made.

“With these additions, consumers will be further able to obtain information regarding the source and processing of the ingredients in Pure Via,” the plaintiffs say in their motion supporting preliminary approval of the class action settlement. “The injunctive relief provides consumers with significant information to make their own determination as to whether they deem Pure Via to be ‘natural.’”

The plaintiffs are also seeking certification of a Class of U.S. residents who purchased Pure Via products for personal consumption or household use since 2008.

Class Members are expected to receive cash benefits ranging from $5 to $30, based on the dollar amount spent on the products during the Class Period. “The settlement enables Settlement Class Members who purchased even one Pure Via product to receive $5.00, which is more than the Average Pure Via consumer product’s price,” the class action settlement documents state. “This relief may not have been available had the settlement not been reached.”

The amount Class Members are eligible to receive may be increased or decreased on a pro rata basis, depending on how many claims are filed. Any remaining funds will be distributed to the American Diabetes Association.

Further information about the Pure Via class action settlement was not immediately available. Keep checking TopClassActions.com or sign up for our free newsletter for the latest updates. You can also mark this article as a “Favorite” using your free Top Class Actions account to receive notifications when this article is updated.

The plaintiffs are represented by Amanda F. Lawrence, Christopher M. Burke, Hal D. Cunningham and Joseph P. Guglielmo of Scott + Scott LLP.

The Pure Via Deceptive Labeling Class Action Lawsuit is Angel Aguiar v. Merisant Company, et al., Case No. 2:14-cv-00670-RGK-AGR, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

UPDATE: Instructions on how to file a claim for the Pure Via deceptive labeling class action settlement are now available! Click here or visit www.PureViaSweetenerSettlement.com for details.

UPDATE 2: Readers are reporting that they are receiving checks in the mail from the Pure Via class action settlement. Congratulations to everyone who submitted a valid claim and got PAID!

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3 thoughts on$1.65M Class Action Settlement Reached over Pure Via Product Labeling

  1. ace says:

    received $22.96 Florida. Thanks

  2. Top Class Actions says:

    UPDATE 2: Readers are reporting that they are receiving checks in the mail from the Pure Via class action settlement. Congratulations to everyone who submitted a valid claim and got PAID!

  3. Top Class Actions says:

    UPDATE: Instructions on how to file a claim for the Pure Via deceptive labeling class action settlement are now available! Click here or visit http://www.PureViaSweetenerSettlement.com for details.

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