Crosner Legal has filed a class action lawsuit against Adams Vegetable Oils, Inc., alleging deceptive marketing practices surrounding its Marianne’s Harvest brand avocado oil products. Filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, the complaint contends that Adams Vegetable Oils prominently labels its avocado oil as “Non-GMO” and “Non-GMO Project Verified,” misleading consumers into believing the product possesses superior qualities compared to other avocado oils, when in reality, no genetically modified avocado oil exists on the market today.
The lawsuit alleges that by advertising its avocado oil as “Non-GMO,” Adams exploits consumer expectations and unfairly capitalizes on the growing demand for non-GMO foods, despite there being no GMO version of avocado oil available anywhere in the world. The World Health Organization and U.S. regulatory bodies, including the FDA and USDA, confirm that avocados have never been genetically engineered. Therefore, labeling avocado oil as “Non-GMO” conveys no meaningful distinction, but instead misleads consumers into paying premium prices for a product that is functionally identical to every other avocado oil on the shelf.
Consumer protection laws prohibit not only outright false advertising but also marketing that, although technically true, is deceptive or likely to mislead. According to the lawsuit, Adams Vegetable Oils’ use of the Non-GMO claims deceives reasonable consumers, who believe they are purchasing a product that is healthier or uniquely free from genetic modification. In fact, the Non-GMO claim on Marianne’s Harvest avocado oil falsely implies a meaningful benefit over competitor products that do not carry such labeling, despite there being no actual difference.
The lawsuit seeks to hold Adams Vegetable Oils accountable for violations of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Competition Law, and False Advertising Law. It demands restitution for consumers who overpaid for the deceptively labeled products and seeks injunctive relief to prohibit Adams from continuing to market its avocado oil using misleading non-GMO claims. Transparency in food labeling is vital to ensure consumers are not manipulated into spending more for illusory benefits. Companies must be honest about what distinguishes their products from others and must not use meaningless claims to create false perceptions of superiority.
If you purchased Marianne’s Harvest brand avocado oil believing it was distinctively non-GMO, you may be entitled to relief. Contact Crosner Legal today to learn more about your rights.
- Crosner Legal: 9440 Santa Monica Blvd. #301, Beverly Hills, CA 90210
- Phone: (866) 276-7637 [CROSNER]
- Email: intake@crosnerlegal.com
- Fax: (310) 510-6429
This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.