Brigette Honaker | February 20, 2019
A class action lawsuit claims that Nature Nate’s 100% Pure Raw and Unfiltered Honey is not raw and is not 100 percent honey according to lab testing.
Plaintiff Marilyn Pierce says that on the Nature Nate’s website it states that: “We simply warm the honey so that it’s easier to deal with and pour into bottles. High heat is a no no. It kills all the good stuff.”
However, Pierce alleges that Nature Nate’s honey is heated to up to 120 degrees Fahrenheit to make bottling easier – meaning that the product is not actually raw.
When raw honey is heated above 105 degrees Fahrenheit, the enzymes in the product reportedly start to break down. The Nature Nate’s class action claims this causes the honey to lose its “prized” characteristics which consumers pay a premium price for.
In addition, Pierce says honey from Nature Nate’s may also not be 100 percent honey. Sample testing by a lab reportedly revealed that syrups had been added to the honey. The plaintiff recognizes that she cannot currently determine if it is Nature Nate’s that adds the syrup or if it is done by one of Nature Nate’s suppliers.
However, the class action claims that Nature Nate’s website makes false statements including: “We only bottle the best. That’s why we test. And test. And test. No antibiotics, pesticides or herbicides or added corn or rice syrup get past us.”
Pierce claims that Nature Nate’s continues to make inaccurate claims about their honey so that they can sell their product for a premium price. Raw, pure honey is a premium product which Nature Nate’s allegedly attempts to capitalize on.
“In spite of its knowledge regarding the false labeling of its ‘100% Raw’ Honey products, Nature Nate continues to sell its Raw Honey at prices it could not hope to receive for processed honey, that is honey that is not 100% raw,” the Nature Nate’s honey class action lawsuit claims.
The Nature Nate’s class action lawsuit alleges that consumers rely on the company’s representations when purchasing their honey. These consumers allegedly trust that Nature Nate’s will not lie to them and that their advertisements are trustworthy.
However, the alleged false nature of Nature Nate’s honey representations reportedly causes consumers like Pierce to not receive the value of product that they paid for.
“Plaintiff and Class Members relied on Nature Nate’s representations on the Honey bottles’ labels and on Nature Nate’s website and accepted such representations as being true,” Pierce argues. “However, the Honey does not conform to these express representations and, as alleged herein, Nature Nate breached its express representations concerning its Raw Honey.”
Pierce seeks to represent a Class of consumers who purchased Nature Nate’s 100% Raw Honey products.
The class action lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, equitable relief, declaratory relief, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.
Pierce is represented by Kenneth W. Biermacher of Kane Russell Coleman Logan PC; Kent A. Heitzinger of Kent A. Heitzinger & Associates; and Terrence Buehler of The Law Office of Terrence Buehler.
The Nature Nate’s 100% Raw Honey Class Action Lawsuit is Pierce v. North Dallas Honey Company, Case No. 3:19-cv-00410-B, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
UPDATE: On February 8, 2021, the Nature Nate’s class action lawsuit was dismissed.