A new lawsuit alleges that a widely sold sugar substitute is marketed as being made mainly from monk fruit and containing no artificial sweeteners, while it is actually composed mostly of erythritol, which the complaint describes as an artificial ingredient. The suit was filed by Luke Graglia on June 1, 2026, in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York against Cargill, Inc.
According to the class action complaint, Graglia purchased Truvia Sweet Complete Granulated All-Purpose Monk Fruit Sweetener multiple times in Brooklyn, New York. He claims he relied on what he describes as false and misleading packaging stating that the product is made primarily from monk fruit and contains "NO ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS." The complaint states that had Graglia known these representations were not accurate, he would not have bought the product or would have paid less for it.
The document outlines that Cargill formulates, manufactures, advertises, and sells this sweetener throughout the United States. It highlights specific elements of the product’s packaging such as "THE COMPLETE SUGAR REPLACEMENT" and "CALORIE-FREE SWEETENER FROM MONK FRUIT," which are said to reinforce the impression that monk fruit is the main ingredient. However, according to Graglia’s allegations, only a small percentage of the product consists of monk fruit extract; instead, erythritol is listed first among its ingredients by weight.
The plaintiff asserts that erythritol does not share the health benefits commonly associated with monk fruit. The complaint references research linking erythritol to potential health risks including blood clots and digestive discomfort. It further details how erythritol is manufactured through a process involving genetically modified yeast strains fermenting sugars derived from sources like corn or wheat starch.
Graglia brings claims under New York General Business Law sections 349 and 350 for deceptive business practices and false advertising. He alleges that Cargill’s marketing was likely to mislead reasonable consumers about both the nature and quality of its sweetener products. The suit also includes a claim for breach of express warranty based on statements made on packaging.
The proposed class includes all persons in New York who purchased Truvia Sweet Complete Granulated All-Purpose Monk Fruit Sweetener for personal use during the maximum period allowed by law. The filing argues that individual lawsuits would be impractical due to the number of affected consumers—believed to be in the millions—and asserts that common questions predominate over individual issues.
The complaint requests several forms of relief: certification of a class action; compensatory, statutory, and punitive damages; restitution; injunctive relief requiring changes to Cargill’s labeling practices; corrective advertising; prejudgment interest; attorneys’ fees; expenses; and costs of suit. It also demands a jury trial on all triable issues.
Attorney Joshua D. Arisohn of Arisohn LLC represents Graglia in this matter. The case has been assigned docket number 1:26-cv-03274.
Source: 126cv03274_Graglia_v_Cargill_Inc_Complaint_Eastern_District_New_York.pdf