Welch Foods Inc. has agreed to a class action settlement worth $1.5 million to resolve all claims on misleading labeling. Three grape juices covered under the settlement were advertised to benefit heart health whereas the plaintiffs argued that it led to detrimental cardiovascular ailments and a spike in sugar levels. The defendant Welch Foods Inc. continues to stick to its standpoint regarding the merits of its products but has decided to end the litigation by reimbursing eligible customers.
Eligibility For Making Claim: You will be considered eligible to file a claim if you have purchased any of the following products in the United States between 23rd March 2016 and 1st October 2021:
- Welch’s 100% Grape Juice Concord Grape
- Welch’s 100% Juice Red Sangria
- Welch’s 100% Black Cherry Concord Grape Juice
However, all these products should have been purchased for household use and not for distribution or resale.
Proof Of Purchase: Though proof of purchase is not mandatory for claiming reimbursement under this class action settlement, you can increase your chances of making claims for a greater number of products by submitting the following documents:
- Purchase orders
- Receipts
- Invoices &
- Similar documents indicate the purchase of the product, the quantity purchased, and the date of purchase.
Potential Claim Amount: Without proof of purchase class members submitting a timely and valid claim are eligible to receive $1 as compensation against each product. This will be based on the maximum products purchased between 23rd March 2016 and 1st October 2021 with a maximum ceiling of 12 products. These claimants are thus entitled to a maximum possible payment of $12. There will be no upper limit on the amount of claim if proof of purchase can be offered. However, the actual amount might be increased or decreased depending on whether the total claim value is more or less than the Settlement Fund once attorneys’ fees and similar expenses have been deducted.
Case Summary: Welch Foods Inc. has attained a $1.5 million class-action settlement with U.S. consumers for resolving claims that the company engaged in misleading advertising of its products. The plaintiffs in this lawsuit alleged that the company positioned and advertised its products making claims that it supports a healthy heart. While the three grape juices in question were advertised to be heart-friendly, they increased all chances of cardiovascular ailments.
The lead plaintiff Curtis Hanson filed a class-action lawsuit against Welch Foods Inc. in March 2020. Other than the monetary reimbursement, this settlement also requires Welch to stop using challenged claims like “helps promote a healthy heart,” and “helps support a healthy heart,” and similar claims on the covered products for at least two years. An estimated $249000 will go towards the administration of the settlement and 25% of the settlement fund, i.e., $375000 will be paid as fees to the class counsel.
The class-action lawsuit was brought on grounds that Welch violated the warranty status and consumer protection rights with the advertising of its covered products. The product labels were typically misleading as they led to an increase in chances of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular ailments after being consumed. Though Welch denied the allegations by asserting various defenses, it has agreed to the terms of the settlement. You can avail of Welch’s products at retailers like CVS, Target, and Walmart.
Claim Form: https://welchfoodsclaims.pnclassaction.com/
Settlement Website: WelchFoodsSettlement.com
Deadline for Submitting Claim: 03/07/2022
Final Hearing Date: 04/15/2022
Settlement Pool: $1.5 million
Important Note: The company has previously faced other lawsuits over Welch’s juices. Welch Foods was on the receiving end of a class action from customers in 2019 who claimed that its Concord Grape Juice and White Grape Juice contained arsenic and lead. Welch avoided a class-action lawsuit last year alleging the company of engaging in false advertisements of the primary ingredients in Welch’s Fruit Snacks as fruit. You are requested not to submit false claims in this settlement as doing that might harm other eligible class members.
Case Name: Hanson, et al. v. Welch Foods Inc., Case No. 3:20-cv-02011-JCS in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Claims Administrator
Hanson v. Welch Foods Class Administrator
P.O. Box 1908
Baton Rouge, LA 70821
[email protected]
1-877-393-0092
Class Counsel
Jack Fitzgerald
Melanie Rae Persinger
Trevor Matthew Flynn
FITZGERALD JOSEPH LLP
Defense Counsel
Bart Harper Williams
Baldassare Vinti
Jennifer L. Jones
Qian Jennifer Yang
PROSKAUER ROSE LLP