If you’re relying on oat milk for vitamin D, a new lawsuit suggests you might not be getting what you paid for.
When consumers purchase fortified plant-based milk alternatives, they rely on nutrition labels to make informed decisions about their dietary needs. A recent class action lawsuit filed against Planet Oat, a popular oat milk brand manufactured by HP Hood LLC, challenges whether those labels accurately reflect what's actually in the carton.
The case centers on a striking allegation: despite label claims of 4 micrograms of vitamin D per serving, independent laboratory testing allegedly found zero vitamin D in the product.
Plaintiff Theo LaBrusciano-Carris filed the lawsuit in California federal court in December 2024, claiming that Planet Oat's original oat milk product contains no vitamin D despite its packaging stating each serving provides 20 percent of the daily recommended value.
According to the complaint, independent testing conducted by an accredited laboratory revealed zero micrograms of vitamin D per serving, a dramatic discrepancy from the 4 micrograms claimed on the nutritional label.
The lawsuit alleges violations of multiple California consumer protection laws, including the False Advertising Law, Unfair Competition Law, and Consumer Legal Remedies Act. LaBrusciano-Carris seeks to represent both a nationwide class and California subclass of consumers who purchased the allegedly mislabeled product for personal or household use. The complaint states that consumers would not have purchased the product, or would have paid less for it, had they known the true vitamin D content.
Why vitamin D matters in plant-based milk
The significance of this lawsuit extends beyond a single product. Vitamin D has become a critical selling point for plant-based milk alternatives as they compete with dairy milk in an increasingly crowded market. Unlike dairy milk, which naturally contains small amounts of vitamin D, plant-based beverages contain no vitamin D naturally and must be fortified to provide this essential nutrient.
According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamin D plays a vital role in calcium absorption and bone health. Deficiency can lead to serious conditions such as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. The fortification of milk with vitamin D beginning in the 1930s was credited with nearly eradicating rickets in the United States, making accurate fortification levels particularly important from a public health perspective.
For consumers who have switched from dairy milk to plant-based alternatives, vitamin D content often factors directly into purchasing decisions. Many people rely on fortified beverages as a significant source of this nutrient, especially those living in northern climates with limited sun exposure or individuals with dietary restrictions. The FDA permits manufacturers to add up to 84 IU per 100 grams of vitamin D to plant-based beverages intended as milk alternatives, recognizing the importance of these products in meeting dietary needs.
A pattern of mislabeling concerns
The Planet Oat case represents part of a broader trend of consumer lawsuits targeting nutritional claims on food and beverage labels. The food industry has faced increasing scrutiny over discrepancies between advertised nutritional content and actual testing results, particularly regarding vitamin and mineral fortification.
Earlier this year, a similar lawsuit was filed against Naked Nutrition over claims its vegan protein powder products were falsely advertised.
These cases highlight ongoing challenges in the food manufacturing industry. Historical surveys have revealed significant problems with vitamin fortification accuracy. A 1991 FDA survey of milk plants found that approximately 20 percent of tested milks were under-fortified while 27 percent were over-fortified for vitamins A and D. Though these findings relate to dairy milk, they underscore the technical complexities involved in maintaining consistent fortification levels across production runs.
The consequences of mislabeling extend beyond consumer frustration. When products fail to deliver promised nutritional content, vulnerable populations who depend on fortified foods to meet dietary requirements may experience nutritional deficiencies. Children, pregnant women, older adults, and individuals with limited sun exposure are particularly at risk when fortified products fail to meet label claims.
What this means for consumers
While the lawsuit proceeds through the courts, consumers face questions about how to evaluate nutrition claims on plant-based milk products. The case serves as a reminder that nutrition labels, while regulated by federal law, depend on manufacturer accuracy in both fortification and testing. Consumers concerned about vitamin D intake may want to diversify their sources rather than relying solely on fortified beverages.
For those who have purchased Planet Oat's original oat milk product, the lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief along with compensatory, statutory, and punitive damages. As a class action, it could potentially affect a large number of consumers who relied on the product's vitamin D claims when making purchasing decisions.
The timing of the lawsuit coincides with increased consumer awareness about plant-based nutrition and growing market competition among dairy alternatives. As more consumers shift toward plant-based diets, accurate nutritional labeling becomes increasingly critical. Whether the allegations in this case prove true remains to be determined through the legal process, but the lawsuit raises important questions about quality control and verification procedures in the rapidly expanding plant-based food industry.
The case also highlights the importance of independent testing in verifying manufacturer claims. While companies are required to ensure their products meet label declarations, third-party verification can reveal discrepancies that might otherwise go unnoticed. As the plant-based food market continues to grow, industry oversight and testing standards may need to evolve to maintain consumer trust and ensure nutritional accuracy.
