EAST ST. LOUIS — Frito-Lay is facing a class action alleging the labeling of its "Hint of Lime" Tortilla Chips misleads consumers regarding the actual amount of real lime ingredients.
Rachael Barnett, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint May 11 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois against Frito-Lay North America Inc., alleging violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, breach of express warranty, implied warranty of merchantability, violation of the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, fraud, unjust enrichment and negligent misrepresentation.
Barnett alleges in the class action that Frito-Lay is deceiving consumers with the labeling of its Tostitos "Hint of Lime" Tortilla Chips and the representations "as to the amount and quality of lime ingredient." She alleges that Frito-Lay "fails to tell consumers that the product's taste is not only from limes and has a negligible amount of lime." Barnett claims the tortilla chips "consist of flavor compounds" that are made to "imitate the taste provided by limes," such as added limonene and citral. She also claims the "use of real lime ingredients" is less than consumers expect. She alleges consumers paid more for the product based on the label's false representations.
Barnett seeks monetary relief, trial by jury and all other proper relief. She is represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC in Great Neck, N.J.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois case number 3:21-CV-00470