Kraft Mac and Cheese Faces New Class Action Lawsuit

Kraft Heinz, the company behind the beloved Kraft Mac & Cheese, is facing a class action lawsuit that recently got the green light to move forward in federal court. Filed in December 2023, the lawsuit accuses Kraft Heinz of misleading consumers about the ingredients in their macaroni and cheese.

The lawsuit alleges that Kraft Heinz falsely marketed Kraft Mac & Cheese as free from artificial flavors, preservatives, and dyes, when in reality, it contains synthetic additives like citric acid, sodium phosphate, and/or sodium triphosphate. The court documents highlight that the U.S. FDA has cautioned food manufacturers against using the term “natural” when such synthetic ingredients are present.

Despite attempts by Kraft Heinz to have the lawsuit dismissed, a U.S. District Judge ruled that the case will proceed to federal court. The judge acknowledged the plaintiffs’ claims regarding the artificial ingredients in the product but ruled in favor of Kraft Heinz on the issue of future harm from these preservatives.

In a separate case in 2022, a lawsuit against Kraft Heinz over the preparation time of their Velveeta Shells & Cheese product was dismissed in 2023. As for participation in the current Kraft Mac & Cheese lawsuit, consumers will have to wait until the case is settled before potentially seeking compensation.

It’s important to note that there is no recall of Kraft Mac & Cheese at this time. However, in 2015, over 6.5 million boxes of the product were recalled due to the presence of metal, whereas in September 2024, the FDA recalled macaroni and cheese products from another manufacturer, Reser’s Fine Foods, due to spoilage issues.