The hugely popular protein bar brand settles a $12 million lawsuit – are you eligible for cash compensation?
People who bought a popular protein bar could receive a share of the millions of dollars the maker just paid.
Anyone who ate Clif Bars or Clif Kid ZBars between April 2014 and March 2023 can get up to $50, depending on how many you bought.
The company just reached a $12 million settlement over claims that its ingredient label was misleading.
The plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit against the massive company alleged that the products were marketed as healthy, despite their high added sugar content.
Clif Bar denies any wrongdoing and maintains that its products are not unhealthy because of the added sugar and that the labeling on its Clif Bars and ZBars is accurate and not misleading.
The Settlement Class includes anyone who purchased one or more of its products during the specified period.
People can file a claim on the class action’s website by clicking “File a Claim.” A household can earn as much as $50. The deadline for submission is November 25.
The company has been accused of marketing its products as healthy despite the high sugar content
Products included in the settlement include genuine Clif Bars with packaging or labels that read “Nutrition for Sustained Energy.”
They also include Clif Kid ZBars with packaging that includes claims like “No High Fructose Corn Syrup,” “Nourishing Kids in Motion,” and “While raising our family, finding nutritious on-the-go snacks for our kids wasn’t easy. That’s why we created Clif Kid: healthy, delicious snacks made with organic ingredients to help kids continue, grow and explore.”
The first page of the claim asks for the customer’s name and contact information.
They will also have to provide details of their purchases.
Despite the bars being labeled as healthy, prosecutors argued that nearly 40 percent of the calories in them came from added sugar.
Clif Bar and parent company Mondelez have denied that their products are unhealthy or that the labels are misleading, despite agreeing to the settlement.
Nutritionists have long criticized Clif Bars for being unhealthier than they claim to be.
Elysse Lakatos and Tammy Lakatos Shames, aka ‘The Nutrition Twins’, previously told DailyMail.com that the bars are packed with sugar that spikes your blood sugar levels and makes you even hungrier in a short time.
There’s also little evidence that protein bars do much to suppress appetite for long periods of time, making it less likely you’ll overeat.
One study found that people who ate a protein bar every day were more likely to gain weight within a week than those who did not. Researchers suggest that while protein bars may be nutritious, they may not be filling enough to keep people from eating more later.
The protein bar market is huge, estimated at $7 billion and expected to grow to $8.26 billion by 2030.
They are often used as a quick meal replacement on the go or as fuel for a tough workout.
Protein is a crucial macronutrient for maintaining body tissues, muscles, hormones and many other functions. Thousands of foods claim to be high in protein, contributing to a growing cultural obsession with getting enough of it.
Many people are also concerned about not getting enough protein in their diet. Protein should make up 10 to 35 percent of calories.
For the typical American man, who weighs just under 200 pounds, the recommended amount is 72 grams. For the average woman, who weighs just under 171 pounds, this is 61.5 ounces.
According to survey data from the CDCMen consume about 31 percent more than the recommended amount, while women exceed it by about 12 percent.
That’s what experts say the only people with a protein deficiency are usually malnourished or older adults with decreased appetite who have difficulty eating enough calories.
Registered dietitian Abbey Sharp told Fortune, “If you meet your calorie needs, you meet your protein needs.”