Medford Woman Sues Trader Joe's: Not Enough Honey In Cereal

MEDFORD, MA – Is there enough honey in Trader Joe's honey cereal? One Medford resident doesn't think so, going so far as to sue the chain for allegedly misleading its customers.

Anita Lima filed a class action suit in Boston federal court this week, claiming that Trader Joe's "Honey Nut O's" contain "only a minuscule amount of honey." Lima is seeking to represent a nationwide class of customers who bought a box in the last five years, according to Boston Business Journal.

According to the complaint, "Defendant’s branding and packaging of ‘Trader Joe’s Honey Nut O’s’ convey that honey — and not sugar — is its primary sweetener. In truth, however, sugar (also referred to as white sugar) and brown sugar are the most prevalent sweeteners, and on information and belief the product contains only a minuscule amount of honey."

Framingham law firm Quat Law Offices filed the suit, which alleges that customers paid more for the cereal than was warranted given that sugar was the primary sweetener, Business Journal reported. The product's box does not specify how much honey is in the cereal, but the use of a honeycomb dripping honey into a bowl as its main image is "deceptive," the suit claims.

A representative from Trader Joe's did not immediately return a Patch request for comment.

Photo: PINECREST, FL - OCTOBER 18: The Trader Joe's sign is seen during the grand opening of a Trader Joe's on October 18, 2013 in Pinecrest, Florida. Trader Joe's opened its first store in South Florida where shoppers can now take advantage of the California grocery chains low-cost wines and unique items not found in other stores. About 80 percent of what they sell is under the Trader Joe's private label. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)