This week witnessed accusations against a popular health drink brand transform into a class action lawsuit. POM Wonderful, a global brand committed to innovation and wellness, has been on the receiving end of significant scrutiny after they allegedly deceived consumers about the potential health benefits their products provide. As a result, W Rex Templeton Jr. filed a complaint with a Georgia federal court on February 16.
As an industry leader, POM Wonderful prides themselves on their ability to grow and market pomegranates and pomegranate-based products that are healthy, honest and essential to the well-being of humankind. The company offers a wide variety of pomegranate products such as juices, teas, health bars, concentrates, arils, pills and more. Each of which boast antioxidants to promote a healthy lifestyle. Currently they are the only company that grows, harvests, processes and ships their own pomegranates.
While there is little doubt about the beneficial aspects provided by antioxidants, recent complaints suggest that marketing campaigns provided by POM Wonderful are misleading and deceptive. In a complaint filed in a federal court in Georgia on February 16, Mr. Templeton Jr. claimed that POM misled consumers by claiming “special health benefits” about its products “where such products do not, in fact, contain said benefits.”
The current class action lawsuit leveled against POM also blames the company for unjust enrichment. Plaintiffs suggest that POM benefitted financially from their alleged “misrepresentations and false statements.” Mr. Templeton Jr. acknowledged that “it would be inequitable for Defendants to retain the monies received from Georgia consumers as a result of Defendants’ unfair, deceptive and misleading practices.”
The latest action taken against POM includes all Georgia consumers who purchased POM Wonderful pomegranate products from September 2006 to the present.
Among the allegedly misleading claims made by POM are “special health benefits, including but not limited to the prevention mitigation, and/or treatment of the following: atherosclerosis; blood flow/pressure; prostate cancer; erectile dysfunction; cardiovascular disease; reduce LDL cholesterol; and other age related medical conditions.”
Complication the situation for POM, is a challenge from the U.S. National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (NAD) in 2005. According to the NAD, POM has overstated the health benefits of its products on several occasions. The NAD challenge argued that POM could not verify he claims it has been making.
However, POM representatives dismissed the claims and acknowledged that they were “completely unwarranted.”
The current case against POM is expecting a verdict next month on March, 6.
Do I Have a POM Wonderful Lawsuit?
The trial lawyers at The Senators (Ret.) Firm, LLP have decades of experience navigating through complex legislative and regulatory issues and litigating high stakes cases all over the nation. Our law firm focuses on the representation of plaintiffs in POM Wonderful lawsuits. We are currently accepting new cases in all 50 states.
If you or a loved one has been the victim of misleading and deceptive advertising by POM Wonderful, you may be entitled to financial compensation. For a free case review, please click the link below or call toll free 24 hrs/day 1-800-773-0849.