Class Action Challenges Jackson’s Avocado Oil Claims
Serino & Nocon LLP has filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Jackson’s Food Company, LLC concerning the marketing and sale of Jackson’s Avocado Oil Sweet Potato Chips. The lawsuit alleges that Jackson’s prominently represents that its sweet potato chips are made and cooked exclusively with avocado oil, while testing conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis (“UC Davis”) found that two separate production lots of the product were compositionally inconsistent with authentic avocado oil.
The “Always With Avocado Oil” Representation
Plaintiff alleges that Jackson’s repeatedly emphasizes avocado oil in its packaging and advertising. The front of the product prominently states “ALWAYS WITH AVOCADO OIL” and the back of the package states “AVOCADO OIL ALWAYS”. The complaint further alleges that Jackson’s identifies only sweet potatoes, avocado oil, and sea salt as ingredients in the product and distinguishes its snacks from products made with seed oils.
UC Davis Testing
The lawsuit follows a July 2026 peer-reviewed study by researchers at UC Davis that examined the authenticity of avocado and olive oils used as ingredients in commercially processed foods. The study analyzed fatty-acid and sterol profiles—chemical characteristics that can be used to evaluate whether an oil is compositionally consistent with authentic avocado oil. According to the complaint, the researchers used conservative criteria designed to account for natural variation, analytical uncertainty, and the effects of food processing. The study found that 48 of 54 avocado-oil-labeled processed food samples were compositionally inconsistent with authentic avocado oil. Among avocado-oil-labeled chips, 26 of 28 samples were classified as inconsistent.
Most significantly for this lawsuit, UC Davis tested two separate production lots of Jackson’s Avocado Oil Sweet Potato Chips, identified as Samples 21 and 22. Both samples were classified by researchers as compositionally inconsistent with authentic avocado oil. Two separate lots of another Jackson’s product, Kettle Cooked Sea Salt Potato Chips Only with Avocado Oil, were likewise classified as inconsistent.
Proposed California Class
The lawsuit seeks to represent a proposed class consisting of: All persons who, during the applicable statute of limitations, purchased Jackson’s Avocado Oil Sweet Potato Chips in California for personal, family or household use and not for resale or distribution.
Claims and Relief Sought
The complaint asserts claims for:
Violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law;
Violation of California’s False Advertising Law;
Breach of Express Warranty;
Breach of the Implied Warranty of Merchantability;
Fraudulent Misrepresentation;
Negligent Misrepresentation; and
Violation of the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act.
Important: The allegations described above are contained in the complaint and have not been adjudicated. Jackson’s Food Company has not been found liable for the alleged conduct, and the case remains pending.