Jif ‘Natural’ Peanut Butter Labeling Suit Over GMO Beets Tossed

J.M. Smucker Co. exited a suit alleging its Jif peanut butter was deceptively labeled “natural” because it could contain sugar from genetically modified beets, as an Ohio federal court said the plaintiff failed to show consumers would be fooled.

Graham Forsher challenged the labeling on several Jif varieties. He sought to represent a California class and a multistate class, and raised California consumer protection law and warranty claims.

But his allegations are speculative and insufficient to state a plausible claim, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio said.

He didn’t contend that the actual peanut butter products ...