Ocean Spray Loses Bid to Decertify Juice Labeling Suit

Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc. lost its attempt to decertify a class action alleging the labels of a dozen juice products duped California consumers.

Crystal Hilsley alleged she and others overpaid for a dozen Ocean Spray juice products labeled as having no artificial flavors when they contained undisclosed, synthetic fumaric acid and d-l malic acid as flavoring ingredients.

Hilsley offered a way to show, classwide, the amount of the alleged price premium attributable to the “no artificial flavors” statement, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California said July 10.

Because Hilsley produced actual retail sales data for the ...