Plaintiff Alleges Clif Bars “Dangerously” High in Added Sugar

Plaintiffs in California and New York have filed a putative class action alleging Clif Bar & Co. “omits, intentionally distracts from, and otherwise downplays” the “high added sugar content” of Clif Classic and Clif Kid bars. Milan v. Clif Bar & Co., No. 18-2354 (N.D. Cal., filed April 19, 2018). The complaint asserts that the bars contain high amounts of added sugar—“a chronic liver toxin”—and alleges that excess sugar consumption can lead to several conditions, including metabolic syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, obesity, high triglycerides and hypertension. The plaintiffs allege that Clif “employs a strategic marketing campaign intended to appeal to customers interested in healthful foods in order to increase sales and profits, despite that the high-sugar bars are detrimental to health.” By emphasizing “nutritious” and “organic” ingredients as well as the lack of high-fructose corn syrup and genetically modified organisms, the company allegedly fails to disclose that Clif Classic and Clif Kid bars contain as much as 22 grams of sugar and that a single bar can contain up to 100 percent of the maximum recommended daily intake of added sugars, according to the plaintiffs. Claiming violations of California and New York’s consumer-protection laws, the plaintiffs seek class certification, injunctive relief, corrective advertising, damages and attorney’s fees.