The plaintiff, Diana Heiland, has filed a California class-action alleging Kettle Brand's Sea Salt With a Hint Of Pink Peppercorn chips labeled "Made With Avocado Oil" actually contain oil profiles consistent with refined vegetable or seed oils, citing UC Davis testing. The suit seeks class status for U.S. purchasers and alleges violations of California consumer-protection and false-advertising laws, plus breach of warranty and unjust enrichment. The complaint is part of a broader wave of ingredient- and greenwashing-related litigation that may pressure brands to improve sourcing and labeling.
Class Action Says Kettle Brand 'Made With Avocado Oil' Chips Contain Refined Seed Oils
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A California class-action complaint accuses Kettle Brand — owned by Campbell's — of misleading labeling by marketing certain potato chips as "Made With Avocado Oil." Plaintiff Diana Heiland filed the suit over the Sea Salt With a Hint Of Pink Peppercorn variety, which she says carried a deceptive avocado-oil claim that influenced purchases.
Testing Cited In Complaint: The filing cites laboratory analysis by food scientists at the University of California, Davis, which the complaint says found the oil composition in the chips did not match authentic avocado oil and instead resembled lower-cost refined vegetable or seed oils. Heiland argues that consumers may have paid a premium for what they believed was a different—and potentially healthier—ingredient.
Legal Claims And Relief Sought: The complaint seeks class status for U.S. purchasers and alleges violations of California's Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Competition Law, and False Advertising Law, along with claims for breach of express warranty and unjust enrichment. The plaintiff is seeking damages, injunctive relief, attorneys' fees and costs, and a jury trial.
Heiland also contends that, if avocado oil was substituted with cheaper oils, the problem likely reflects a manufacturing or supply-chain issue rather than an isolated incident limited to a single package.
Broader Context: This suit arrives amid a wave of ingredient-labeling and greenwashing lawsuits that are testing how far packaging claims can stretch. Top Class Actions reports a separate suit against Campbell's over Cape Cod chips alleging false claims of "no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives." Other disputes include allegations that some SheaMoisture products overstated coconut oil content and high-profile greenwashing litigation in Australia.
Even before courts reach final rulings, litigation like this can push brands to tighten sourcing, improve quality control, or clarify packaging language to avoid future disputes.
Why It Matters: The case highlights growing consumer scrutiny over ingredient claims and the legal mechanisms that hold manufacturers accountable. The outcome could influence industry labeling standards and how brands communicate ingredient sourcing and health-related messages to shoppers.
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