Outshine Sued Over “Real Fruit” Claims In Frozen Bars Allegedly High In Sugar And Synthetic Flavor

Case Overview: A California shopper sued Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, claiming its Outshine frozen fruit bars misrepresent sugar levels and artificial flavor use.

Consumers Affected: U.S. purchasers of Outshine fruit bars labeled as “Made With Real Fruit.”

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

Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream, Inc., the company behind Outshine frozen fruit bars, has been misleading consumers about what’s really in its popular snacks, a new lawsuit claims. 

Outshine markets its bars as healthy, fruit-forward treats made with real fruit and no artificial flavors, when in reality the lawsuit says they are allegedly high-sugar, highly processed products that look and taste more like flavored candy than fruit.

According to the complaint, Outshine’s packaging and advertising repeatedly describe the bars as “Fruit Bars,” “Plant Based,” and “Made with Real Fruit,” while promising no artificial colors or flavors and no high fructose corn syrup. 

Lush images of ripe fruit and green leaves reinforce the message, leading shoppers to believe the bars are nutritionally similar to whole fruit. However, the lawsuit alleges that those claims don’t match what’s actually in the bars.

Plaintiff Says She Paid More Believing Bars Were Healthier Than They Are

California resident Rebecca Gomez filed the lawsuit saying she bought Outshine strawberry bars multiple times from a Safeway in Arcata, California, most recently in September 2025. 

Gomez says she relied on the front-of-package claims when choosing the bars, believing they were made primarily from strawberries and free from artificial flavors or synthetic ingredients.

Based on the branding, Gomez says she thought she was buying a healthy fruit-based snack and paid a premium price for it.

The lawsuit claims she would not have purchased the bars, or would have paid significantly less, had she known they were not nutritionally equivalent to fruit and contained artificial flavoring agents and large amounts of added sugar.

Lawsuit Points To Added Sugars And Synthetic Flavor Compounds

A single serving of Outshine bars contains about 28 grams of sugar, including 24 grams of added sugar, roughly double the sugar found in an equivalent serving of real fruit. The complaint argues that calling the products “Fruit Bars” is misleading, describing them instead as cane sugar and water flavored to taste like fruit.

Gomez also challenges Outshine’s “no artificial flavors” claim, pointing to ingredients such as citric acid, malic acid, and ascorbic acid. While these compounds can occur naturally, the lawsuit alleges the versions used in the bars are synthetically manufactured and function as flavor enhancers, meaning they meet the federal definition of artificial flavors. 

Lemon juice is also used to shape flavor, despite not being disclosed on the front label. Taken together, she says the branding creates a “health halo” that masks how processed the products really are.

Food Companies Face Growing Backlash Over Labeling Claims

Outshine is not alone in facing consumer pushback for alleged false or misleading labeling. Keurig Dr Pepper was recently sued over Mott’s juices labeled “100% Juice” despite containing synthetic preservatives. 

Meanwhile, Oakberry faces claims over preservative-free smoothie marketing and Kroger and Coca-Cola have also been targeted over allegedly misleading “natural” flavor claims.

In her lawsuit, Gomez wants to represent consumers nationwide who purchased Outshine bars for personal consumption. She is suing under California consumer protection and false advertising laws, as well as for breach of warranty. 

She’s asking the court to stop the allegedly misleading marketing and to require the company to refund consumers who paid extra for what they believed were healthier, fruit-based snacks.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Gomez v. Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc.
• Case Number: 1:25-cv-10549
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

Plaintiffs' Attorney

• Adrian Gucovschi (Gucovschi Law Firm, PLLC)

Do you think snacks advertised as “made with real fruit” should match the nutrition of actual fruit? Share your view below.