Class-Action Complaint Filed
A class-action lawsuit filed on June 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California claims that Trader Joe’s gluten-free “Almost Everything” bagels contain high levels of gluten, contrary to their labeling.
Allegations of False Advertising
The lawsuit accuses the popular grocery chain of false advertising. Despite being labeled as “gluten-free,” the bagels were found to contain nearly 13 times the governmental limit of 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. According to the complaint, testing by the nonprofit coalition Moms Across America revealed that the bagels had 269.8 ppm of gluten.
Testing by Health Research Institute
The testing cited in the lawsuit was conducted by the Health Research Institute, a nonprofit lab based in Iowa. Their findings indicate a significant discrepancy between the product labeling and its actual gluten content.
Plaintiff’s Experience
The plaintiff, Shaianne Starks, purchased the bagels from a Trader Joe’s store in Los Angeles County, trusting that the “gluten-free” label meant they were safe for her to consume. Starks claims that had she known the bagels contained high levels of gluten, she would not have bought them.
Implications for Consumers
This lawsuit raises concerns for consumers who rely on gluten-free products for their health. The discrepancy between the labeling and actual gluten content could pose serious health risks for individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.
