A class action lawsuit accuses the makers of Keto+ dietary supplements products of allegedly mislabeling their products and misleading consumers, because the products contain artificial flavors.
The lead plaintiff, Deana Lozano, is a health care administrator who "eats with intentionality and for health," states the lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles federal court. "She carefully reviews labels, including the Products’ labels, because she prefers to consume natural ingredients and avoid artificial flavors and ingredients."
Keto+ products are labelled as naturally flavored, the suit said.
"These natural flavoring claims are false," it said. "The Products are flavored using an artificial flavoring, DL malic acid, that is derived from petrochemicals."
While malic acid is naturally occurring, it is expensive to produce in mass amounts, the suit states. Instead, Sports Research LLC which makes Keto+ uses DL malic acid, a synthetic substance, according to the lawsuit.
"This type of malic acid is manufactured in petrochemical plants from benzene or butane - components of gasoline and lighter fluid, respectively - through a series of chemical reactions, some of which involve highly toxic chemical precursors and byproducts," the suit says.
It seeks unspecified monetary damages, plus attorney fees.
The plaintiffs are represented by attorney Charles C. Weller, of San Diego.
Lozano v. Sports Research LLC, U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, 2:23-CV-08696.