Class Says Cookie Maker Lies About Its Goods

(CN) - A class action claims baked snacks maker Lenny & Larry's misled consumers by enticing them with an "all natural" and "vegan" come on when their cookies are nothing of the kind.

Lenny & Larry's sells high protein baked goods across the United States in hundreds of fitness, sports, nutrition and grocery stores such as Kroger, Sports Authority and 7Eleven, among others.

In a lawsuit filed in Miami-Dade County, lead plaintiff John Schott says that Lenny & Larry's misleadingly advertises its baked products as "all natural" and healthier than other brands, in order to induce consumers to purchase them.

Lenny & Larry's products are known as "The Complete Cookie Family," and come in different flavors such as chocolate and peanut butter, the complaint says.

Schott claims that Lenny & Larry's markets and advertises its products as a "healthy alternative;" however, they are made with synthetic ingredients including thiamine, mononitrate and riboflavin.

According to the complaint, Lenny & Larry's also promotes its baked goods on its website as "all natural" stating that it "could have easily taken shortcuts to produce our products like using preservatives, hydrolyzed gelatin or collagen, sugar alcohols and more but we made a conscious choice very early on to stay with all natural ingredients."

"But the product actually contains various artificial ingredients and defendant has not stated either on its packaging or its website whether it is responsible for growing its own food or obtaining its raw materials from certified organic producers," Schott says.

Schott alleges that "The Complete Cookie Family" cookies are advertised as "vegan" and containing "no eggs, no dairy." However, the rear side of the cookies' packaging states that they are "manufactured in a facility that also processes ... milk, egg."

Lenny & Larry's mislead consumers by using a "flap" to cover up the actual ingredients, Schott claims.

He says that he paid a premium price for Lenny & Larry's products, and based on its representations he believed that its products were "all natural and vegan."

"Had plaintiff known that defendant's product was not all natural he would have not purchased defendant's baked goods products," the complaint says.

Schott seeks compensatory damages on claims of unjust enrichment.

He is represented by Jared Beck from Beck & Lee Trial Lawyers in Miami, Fla.

Aaron Croutch, Lenny & Larry's VP of Business & Legal Affairs, said that they can't comment on the lawsuit because the "complaint has not been served on the company."

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