Bear Naked, Kashi All Natural Class Action Settlement

Kashi Co. and Bear Naked Inc. have agreed to settle class action lawsuits alleging they falsely advertised some of their products as “natural” even though they contained synthetic and artificial ingredients. If you purchased certain Kashi and/or Bear Naked products that were advertised as natural, you could be eligible for benefits from the class action settlements.

The Kashi class action lawsuit alleged Kashi misled consumers by marketing certain products as “All Natural” and “Nothing Artificial” even though they contained synthetic ingredients, such as pyridoxine, hydrochloride, calcium pantothenate and/or hexane-processed soy ingredients. Similarly, the Bear Naked class action lawsuit alleged Bear Naked misled consumers by marketing certain products as “100% Natural” and “100% Pure & Natural” even though they contained synthetic and artificial ingredients.

Kashi and Bear Naked stand by their marketing and deny any wrongdoing. However, they have agreed to settle the class action lawsuits to avoid the cost and risk of ongoing litigation. Kashi has agreed to create a settlement fund of $5 million and Bear Naked has agreed to create a fund of $325,000 to resolve the false advertising class action lawsuits. Both companies have also agreed to make certain changes to its current labeling and marketing of some of its products.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members of the Kashi class action settlement include California residents who purchased certain Kashi products between Aug. 24, 2007 and May 1, 2014.

Class Members of the Bear Naked class action settlement include California residents who purchased certain Bear Naked products between Sept. 21, 2007 and May 1, 2014.

The Kashi products covered by the class action settlement include:

• GoLean Chewy Chocolate Almond Toffee Protein & Fiber Bars
• GoLean Chewy Cookies and Cream Protein & Fiber Bars
• GoLean Chewy Malted Chocolate Crisp Protein & Fiber Bars
• GoLean Chocolate Malted Crisp Protein & Fiber Bars
• GoLean Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Protein & Fiber Bars
• GoLean Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein & Fiber Bars
• GoLean Chocolate Malted Crisp Protein & Fiber Bar
• GoLean Crunchy! Chocolate Almond Protein & Fiber Bars
• GoLean Crunchy! Chocolate Caramel Protein & Fiber Bars
• GoLean Crunchy! Chocolate Peanut Protein & Fiber Bars
• GoLean Crunchy! Chocolate Pretzel Protein & Fiber Bars
• GoLean Crunchy! Cinnamon Coffee Cake Protein & Fiber Bars
• GoLean Oatmeal Raisin Protein & Fiber Bar
• GoLean Peanut Butter & Chocolate Protein & Fiber Bar
• GoLean Roll! Caramel Peanut Protein & Fiber Bar
• GoLean Roll! Chocolate Peanut Protein & Fiber Bar
• GoLean Roll! Chocolate Turtle Protein & Fiber Bar
• GoLean Roll! Fudge Sundae Protein & Fiber Bar
• GoLean Roll! Oatmeal Walnut Protein & Fiber Bar
• TLC Baked Apple Spice Soft-Baked Snack Bars
• TLC Blackberry Graham Soft-Baked Snack Bars
• TLC Cherry Dark Chocolate Chewy Granola Bars
• TLC Cherry Vanilla Soft-Baked Snack Bars
• TLC Cranberry Walnut Fruit & Grain Bars
• TLC Cranberry Walnut Layered Granola Bars
• TLC Dark Chocolate Coconut Fruit & Grain Bars
• TLC Dark Chocolate Coconut Layered Granola Bar
• TLC Dark Mocha Almond Chewy Granola Bars
• TLC Honey Almond Flax Chewy Granola Bars
• TLC Honey Toasted 7 Grain Granola Bars
• TLC All Natural Chewy Granola Bar in Honey Toasted
• Kashi TLC Crunchy Granola Bar Honey Toasted 7 Grain
• TLC Peanut Peanut Butter Chewy Granola Bars
• TLC Peanutty Dark Chocolate Layered Granola Bar
• TLC Pumpkin Pie Fruit & Grain Bars
• TLC Pumpkin Pecan Layered Granola Bar
• TLC Pumpkin Pecan Fruit & Grain Bars
• TLC Pumpkin Spice Flax Crunchy Granola Bars
• TLC Raspberry Chocolate Fruit & Grain Bars
• TLC Raspberry Chocolate Layered Granola Bar
• TLC Ripe Strawberry Soft-Baked Snack Bars
• TLC Roasted Almond Crunch Crunchy Granola Bars
• TLC Trail Mix Chewy Granola Bars
• 7 Grain Waffles
• Blueberry Waffles
• GoLean Blueberry Waffles GoLean Strawberry Flax Waffles
• GoLean Original 7 Grain Waffles
• Berry Blossoms Squares Cereal
• GoLean Crisp Toasted Berry Crumble Cereal
• GoLean Crunch Cereal
• GoLean Crunch Honey Almond Flax Cereal
• Honey Sunshine Squares Cereal
• Cocoa Beach Granola
• Mountain Medley Granola
• Summer Berry Granola
• GoLean Chocolate Shake
• GoLean Vanilla Shake
• GoLean Creamy Instant Hot Cereal Truly Vanilla
• GoLean Hearty Instant Hot Cereal with Clusters Honey & Cinnamon
• TLC Country Cheddar Cheese Crackers
• TLC Honey Sesame Snack Crackers
• TLC Original 7 Grain with Sea Salt Pita Crisps
• Kashi Pita Crisps Zesty Salsa
• Kashi TLC Crackers Asiago Cheese
• Kashi TLC Crackers Toasted Asiago
• Kashi TLC Entertainer Cracker – Mediterranean Bruchetta
• Kashi TLC Crackers Party Mediterranean Bruschetta
• Kashi TLC Entertainer Cracker – Stoneground 7 Grain
• Kashi TLC Crackers Party Stoneground 7 Grain
• Kashi TLC Crackers Fire Roasted Vegetable
• Kashi TLC Entertainer Cracker – Garlic and Thyme
• Kashi TLC Entertainer Cracker – Stoneground 7 Grain
• Kashi TLC Entertainer Cracker – Original 7 Grain
• Kashi TLC Crackers Original 7 Grain
• Kashi TLC Crackers-Natural Ranch
• TLC Happy Trail Mix Chewy Cookies
• TLC Oatmeal Dark Chocolate Chewy Cookies
• TLC Oatmeal Raisin Flax Chewy Cookies
• Kashi Entrée Chicken Florentine
• Kashi Chicken Pasta Pomodoro
• Kashi Entrée Lemongrass Coconut Chicken
• Kashi Entrée Mayan Harvest Bake
• Kashi Entrée Pesto Pasta Primavera
• Kashi Entrée Southwest Style Chicken
• Kashi Entrée Spicy Black Bean Enchilada
• Kashi Tuscan Veggie Bake
• Kashi Pizza Caribbean Carnival
• Kashi Pizza 5 Cheese & Tomato
• Kashi Pizza Margherita
• Kashi Pizza Margherita – Thin Crust
• Kashi Pizza Margherita – Stone-Fired Thin Crust
• Tomato Garlic Cheese Stone-Fired Thin Crust Pizza
• Kashi Pizza Mexicali Black Bean
• Kashi Pizza Mushroom Trio & Spinach
• Kashi Pizza Mushroom Trio & Spinach – Thin Crust
• Kashi Pizza Basil Pesto
• Kashi Pizza Basil Pesto – Stone-Fired Thin Crust
• Kashi Pizza Roasted Garlic Chicken
• Kashi Pizza Roasted Vegetable
• Kashi Pizza Roasted Vegetable – Thin Crust
• Heart to Heart Honey Oat Waffles
• Heart to Heart Honey Toasted Oat Cereal
• Heart to Heart Instant Oatmeal Apple Cinnamon
• Heart to Heart Instant Oatmeal Golden Maple
• Heart to Heart Instant Oatmeal Raisin Spice
• Heart to Heart Oat Flakes & Blueberry Clusters Cereal
• Heart to Heart Blueberry Cereal
• Heart to Heart Roasted Garlic Whole Grain Crackers
• Heart to Heart Warm Cinnamon Oat Cereal
• Heart to Heart Original Whole Grain Crackers

The Bear Naked products covered by the class action settlement include:

• Bear Naked Cookie Double Chocolate/Bear Naked Soft-Baked Double Chocolate Granola Cookie
• Bear Naked Cookie Fruit & Nut/Bear Naked Soft-Baked Fruit & Nut Granola Cookies
• Bear Naked Fruit and Nut Granola
• Bear Naked Heavenly Chocolate Granola
• Bear Naked Nut Cluster Crunch Honey Almond Cereal
• Bear Naked Nut Cluster Crunch Maple Nut Cereal
• Bear Naked Peak Energy Chocolate Cherry Trail Mix
• Bear Naked Peak Energy Cranberry Almond Trail Mix/Bear Naked Peak Energy Trail Mix Cranberry Protein
• Bear Naked Peak Energy Pecan Apple Flax Trail Mix
• Bear Naked Peak Flax Oats and Honey with Blueberries Granola
• Bear Naked Peak Protein Granola/Bear Naked Peak Protein Original Granola

Potential Award

The specific amount Class Members may receive depends on the quantity of Kashi or Bear Naked products purchased, whether they have receipts for their purchases and the number of valid claims submitted.

If the total number of valid claims for the Kashi and Bear Naked class action settlements exceeds the amount in the settlement funds, each claimant’s fund will be reduced proportionately. If excess money remains in the settlement funds after all valid claims are paid, the remaining amount shell be used to proportionately increase the recovery of each eligible claim.

Kashi Class Members:

Class Members who provide written proof of purchase (such as a receipt or a retail rewards submission) for the affected Kashi products may seek reimbursement of $0.50 for each product purchased. Class Members without proof of purchase may still make a claim for reimbursement of $0.50 for each product purchased, but the maximum recovery for products without proof of purchase will be capped at $25.

Bear Naked Class Members:

Class Members who provide written proof of purchase (such as a receipt or a retail rewards submission) for the affected Bear Naked products may seek reimbursement of $0.50 for each product purchased. Class Members without proof of purchase may still make a claim for reimbursement of $0.50 for each product purchased, but the maximum recovery for products without proof of purchase will be capped at $10.

Proof of Purchase

None required. However, Class Members who submit proof of purchase may seek reimbursement for each product purchased. Class Members without proof of purchase will be limited to a maximum of $25 from the Kashi class action settlement and $10 from the Bear Naked class action settlement.

Claim Form

Claim Form Deadline

8/25/2014

Case Name

Astiana v. Kashi Co., Case No. 3:11-cv-01967-H-BGS and Thurston v. Bear Naked Inc., Case No. 3:11-cv-02890-H-BGS, in the U.S. District Court for the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

Final Hearing

9/2/2014

Settlement Website

www.NaturalClassSettlement.com

Claims Administrator

All Natural Class Actions Settlement Administrator
c/o GCG
P.O. Box 10068
Dublin, OH 43017-6668
1-844-322-8154

Class Counsel

Joseph N. Kravec, Jr.
Wyatt A. Lison
FEINSTEIN DOYLE PAYNE & KRAVEC LLC

Nadeem Faruqi
Antonio Vozzolo
Andrea Clisura
FARUQI & FARUQI LLP

Rosemary M. Rivas
FINKELSTEIN THOMPSON LLP

Janet Lindner Spielberg
LAW OFFICE OF JANET LINDNER SPIELBERG

Michael David Braun
BRAUN LAW GROUP PC

Defense Counsel

Dean N. Panos
JENNER & BLOCK LLP

UPDATE: Checks for the Kashi and Bear Naked class action settlements have been mailed! On Jan. 2, 2015, Top Class Actions viewers began reporting they had received checks worth as much as $328.22 from the settlements. Congratulations to everyone who submitted claims and got paid!

UPDATE 2: On Sept. 4, 2015, a Florida federal judge granted preliminary approval to a Kashi GMO labeling class action settlement that includes a Class of U.S. consumers who do not reside in California.