PepsiCo could be sued for misleading consumers on Gatorade protein bars – report
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A federal judge ruled that PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) can be sued for misleading consumers on Gatorade protein bars as healthy even though they have more sugar than an average candy bar, according to a Reuters report from Thursday.
U.S. District Judge Casey Pitts on Wednesday said a proposed class action alleged PepsiCo’s marketing and labeling were deceptive. The lawsuit was brought forward by three self-described fitness enthusiasts who claimed the bars are actually “fortified junk food” and are seeking unspecified damages.
The suit alleged that Gatorade bars have 29 grams of sugar, including 28 grams of added sugar—more than the American Heart Association’s recommended 25-gram daily limit for women—and just 20 grams of protein, and said excess consumption of added sugar is linked to high rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
The case is McCausland et al. v. PepsiCo Inc., U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 23-04526.