Is French’s Mustard Really Made in the USA? Lawsuit Claims Foreign Ingredients Violate Labeling Rules

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims French's mustard products contain foreign ingredients despite being labeled as "Made in the USA," misleading consumers. 

Consumers Affected: Consumers in California who purchased French's mustard products labeled as "Made in the USA."

Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California

French’s mustard products face new legal scrutiny after a California consumer filed a proposed class lawsuit alleging that certain varieties are falsely advertised as made in the United States. The lawsuit claims these popular condiments contain key ingredients sourced from outside the country, raising questions about the accuracy of the products’ labels.

French’s Mustard Products Marketed as American-Made

French’s Honey Dijon Mustard, Yellow Mustard, and Dijon Mustard Made with Chardonnay are among the products named in the complaint. Packaging on these items prominently states they are "Crafted and Bottled in Springfield, MO, USA," which the case argues gives buyers the impression both production and ingredients come from domestic sources.

A front-label claim that describes the product as offering "American Flavor in a Bottle" reinforces the perception that the contents meet the standards associated with U.S.-made goods. According to the complaint, however, certain core components—including mustard seeds and turmeric—originate from countries such as Canada and others outside the U.S.

Consumers Misled by "Made in USA" Claims, Lawsuit Alleges

Plaintiff Darnell McCoy, a resident of Tulare County, California, claims McCormick & Company, Inc., the parent company behind French’s, failed to properly disclose the use of foreign-sourced materials. Federal and California laws governing “Made in USA” labeling prohibit companies from using such claims unless virtually all ingredients, processing, and components are of domestic origin.

McCoy states that consumers, including himself, were misled by the representations appearing on product labels and marketing materials. The complaint asserts that reasonable buyers expect products labeled as American-made to contain only domestic materials unless clearly noted otherwise.

Foreign Ingredients Allegedly Contradict Product Labeling

Mustard seeds—a key component of French’s Yellow Mustard—are reportedly sourced primarily from Canada. Turmeric, an ingredient used to provide French’s products with their distinctive color, is also imported from foreign suppliers. McCoy argues that these and other materials conflict with the product’s "Crafted and Bottled in Springfield, MO, USA" representation.

McCormick’s long history and established reputation in the food industry, combined with the marketing language used across French’s product line, allegedly gave consumers the impression they were supporting domestic agriculture and American manufacturing when purchasing these items.

Consumers Say They Paid More for Products Marketed as American-Made

The complaint states that consumers are often willing to pay a premium for items believed to be made entirely in the United States. Many believe domestically sourced products reflect higher quality standards, stricter safety regulations, and stronger environmental protections compared to imported goods.

McCoy asserts that he and other buyers would not have purchased French’s mustards, or would have paid less, if they had known foreign-grown ingredients were used. By omitting that information, McCormick allegedly deprived consumers of the ability to make informed purchasing decisions.

Other Companies Face Similar Lawsuits Over "Made in USA" Labels

This is not the first time product labeling tied to American origin claims has faced legal review. In 2024, lawsuits were filed against both Lowe’s and Reynolds for allegedly misrepresenting the origins of safety gloves and aluminum foil. In those cases, plaintiffs argued the products were labeled as U.S.-made while key materials were imported.

In the French’s Mustard Made in USA class action lawsuit, McCoy seeks to represent all California residents who purchased one or more of the identified French’s mustard products during the last four years. Each of those products contained the “Crafted and Bottled in Springfield, MO, USA” statement or similar wording without proper clarification that some ingredients were imported.

He is suing for monetary damages, including refunds or partial refunds for affected consumers, along with injunctive relief requiring McCormick to either reformulate the products to rely exclusively on domestic sources or revise its labels to properly disclose any foreign components.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: McCoy v. McCormick & Company, Inc.
• Case Number: 1:25-at-00156
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California 

Plaintiffs' Attorney:

• Abbas Kazerounian and Pamela E. Prescott (Kazerounian Law Group, APC)

Do you buy French's mustard? What are your thoughts on this lawsuit? Share your opinion in the comments below.