Watch CBS News

Deceptive Food Claims

By Amy E. Feldman

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - If you bought a strawberry fruit snack whose packaging said it was made with real fruit, what would you think would be on its ingredient list? If you said 'real fruit', you might be wrong.

Federal law protects consumers against unfair or deceptive acts or practices in commerce. According to a California lawsuit, General Mills deceives consumers in violation of the law by stating on packaging of Fruit Roll-Ups and Fruit by the Food that the snacks are made with real fruit.

And those claims on the label may be enough to convince parents that the snacks are healthier than a candy bar, which the lawsuit argues, they aren't. Because if you look past the claims and instead focus on the ingredients, you'll notice that strawberry-flavored fruit roll ups contain "pears from concentrate" but no actual strawberries.

General Mills, which stands by its products, is only one food company being sued in what is a trend of consumer lawsuits including one against Nutella, accusing food companies of advertising products being healthier than they are. Regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit, parents are reminded that if kids love it, you should probably read the label.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.