Walmart sued over stevia sweetener labeling

Independent testing revealed Great Value stevia products contain only trace amounts of stevia extract.SAN FRANCISCO (CN) — Walmart misleads consumers by marketing its Great Value stevia sweeteners as made with stevia extract when they are primarily sweetened with erythritol, a proposed class action claims.Lee Ann Winter sued the retailer Oct. 23 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, claiming false advertising and violations of state consumer protection laws.Winter claims the products are “primarily sweetened with erythritol, not stevia extract,” despite labels stating they are made with stevia extract.Independent laboratory testing by Winter’s attorneys found Great Value No Calorie Stevia Packets, in an 80-count package, contained 94.44% erythritol, while Great Value No Calorie Stevia Sweetener Sugar Substitute, sold in a 9.8-ounce package, contained 59.12%, with the remainder primarily dextrose and maltodextrin.Both products contained only trace amounts of rebiana, a stevia leaf extract.Winter claims the front labels prominently display “Stevia,” “made with Stevia Extract” and “No Calorie,” leading consumers to believe their sweetness comes primarily from stevia extract. She says the misleading labels cause consumers to pay more and make misinformed purchasing decisions.Although erythritol appears on the ingredient lists, the labels do not disclose the amounts. Research cited in the lawsuit associates erythritol with possible health concerns, including cardiovascular risks and digestive issues.Winter says she bought the products from Walmart stores in California every month or two over the past three years, most often purchasing a 200-count package of stevia packets. She says she would not have bought them had she known their sweetness came primarily from erythritol.The proposed class includes California residents who purchased the Great Value stevia products during the four years before the lawsuit was filed. Winter’s attorney, Frederick J. Klorczyk III of Kamberlaw, estimates it could include hundreds of thousands of consumers.Subscribe to our free newslettersOur weekly newsletter Closing Arguments offers the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world, while the monthly Under the Lights dishes the legal dirt from Hollywood, sports, Big Tech and the arts.Additional Reads