A class action lawsuit has been filed against World Finer Foods, Inc., accusing the company of deceptive marketing over its Wellington Whole Grain Multigrain Crackers. The suit, filed by Carol Robinson on Nov. 7, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, alleges that the product's "Whole Grain" label misleads consumers, as the primary ingredient is non-whole grain enriched wheat flour.
The lawsuit argues that the prominent "Whole Grain" label on the packaging leads consumers to believe that whole grain is the main ingredient. However, the crackers’ primary ingredient is enriched wheat flour, which lacks the nutritional benefits of whole grains.
The suit claims this misrepresentation violates New York General Business Law §§ 349 and 350, which prohibit deceptive practices and false advertising.
Robinson purchased the crackers for about $4 from a Foodtown store in Brooklyn in August 2024. She says she relied on the "Whole Grain" label when making her purchase but later discovered the product contained mostly non-whole grain flour. Robinson claims she was overcharged and would not have bought the product had she known its true ingredients.
Robinson seeks to represent all individuals who purchased the crackers in New York during the relevant statute of limitations period. The lawsuit asserts that many consumers were similarly misled by World Finer Foods’ labeling practices. It references studies and guidelines from the USDA and FDA, which emphasize the health benefits of whole grains over refined grains and caution against misleading labels.
She is seeking compensatory damages of more than $5 million for herself and other class members, along with statutory damages under New York law. She also requests an injunction to stop the company from continuing its allegedly deceptive practices and calls for corrective advertising.
Joseph I. Marchese and Israel Rosenberg of Bursor & Fisher, P.A., in New York City, represent Robinson. Case I.D. 1:24-cv-07789.