KIND bar lawsuit: what the Zero G added sugar claim means

What the KIND bar lawsuit claims

KIND sells a line of nut bars marked "Zero G Added Sugar" on the front. Both complaints say the bars are sweetened with allulose, which they call a sugar because it is a monosaccharide. The Bauer complaint says allulose is the second or third ingredient by weight in every flavor it lists, while the Nutrition Facts panel says "Includes 0g Added Sugars" and the front of the sample bar also says "1g total sugar." The Coprew complaint puts allulose at about 5 grams per bar.

The plaintiffs say that makes the claim false and that shoppers paid more for it. Bauer pleads Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, Florida's false-advertising law and unjust enrichment; Coprew pleads California's Unfair Competition Law, False Advertising Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act and unjust enrichment. KIND's own product page markets the bars as "ZEROg Added Sugar" and keto-friendly, made with whole ingredients such as almonds and peanuts, but its text does not list ingredients, so the allulose content is the plaintiffs' allegation. Neither KIND nor Mars has been found liable.

Which KIND bars are named

Bauer names four flavors "without limitation," and Coprew names the same four, so other flavors and pack sizes could be added. The table shows what Bauer says is listed ahead of allulose on each bar; ingredients are listed from most to least by weight.

The rule behind "Zero G Added Sugar"

Under 21 C.F.R. 101.60(c)(2), a "no added sugar" type of claim is allowed only if, among other conditions, no sugars or ingredients that substitute for added sugars are added during processing. The complaints say allulose is exactly that. FDA's October 2020 guidance says the agency intends to let makers leave allulose out of the Total Sugars and Added Sugars lines on the Nutrition Facts panel, but the guidance is nonbinding, and the Bauer complaint says nothing in federal or state law specifically permitted the front-of-package claim.

On Jul 27, 2026 the Seventh Circuit held in Franco v. Chobani that allulose is a sugar under the federal regulation, and FDA, at the court's request, said the regulation covers all monosaccharides, including allulose. That case was about a "sugar free" claim, the opinion does not discuss "added sugar" claims, and it binds federal courts only in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. Morrison Foerster notes it did not settle how its reasoning applies to "zero added sugar" claims. For background, read is allulose a sugar and why zero sugar labels are being sued.

Who is in the proposed classes

No class has been certified. Bauer proposes a National Class of people who bought any of the bars in the United States for personal use within four years before the complaint, plus a Florida Class of those who bought in Florida. Coprew proposes a nationwide class of people who bought the bars for personal use during the maximum period the law allows, plus a California subclass. Those are the plaintiffs' proposals; a judge decides later, and there is nothing to sign up for. If you buy KIND bars, keep any receipts or order emails.

Where the KIND cases stand

OpenClassActions (published Oct 4, 2026) reports that neither case has a ruling, that KIND and Mars had not yet responded, that no class is certified and that one case could be moved to join the other. The court dockets could not be opened, so Owed cannot name the judges or response dates, and no KIND or Mars statement turned up. ClassAction.org independently reported the Coprew suit on Sep 11, 2026. Track the Florida case on Owed's KIND case page.

What could happen next

KIND and Mars will likely ask to dismiss the claims, perhaps arguing that FDA's guidance blocks them or that shoppers would not be misled. Because the same bars are challenged in New York and Florida, someone may ask to combine the cases or move one. If the suits survive, the next fight is over class certification, covered in what happens after a class is certified.

A settlement could come at any stage, and class cases commonly take one to three years. Payouts in food labeling cases are usually small and often come with a label change; see how much no-proof settlements pay. Many cases end with no payout at all. No KIND settlement has been announced.

What to do now

You do not need to file anything, because no claim form exists. If one ever opens, filing directly with the settlement administrator is free. Ignore any site or message offering to claim a "KIND settlement" for a fee; our guide to spotting settlement scams covers the red flags.

Owed finds the settlements you qualify for, explains them in plain English, opens the official claim form, reminds you before deadlines and tracks your claim to payout. You submit the claim yourself on the official form. Owed Pro is $2 for the first week, then $49 per year — one flat membership. Owed never takes a percentage of any payout. Browse open settlements that do have claim forms, or follow this case. This is general information, not legal advice; the court decides what happens in these cases.

Glossary

Allulose

A sweetener that is chemically a monosaccharide, like glucose and fructose. FDA says it intends to let makers leave it out of the Total Sugars and Added Sugars lines on the Nutrition Facts panel.

Added sugars

Sugars added to a food during processing. The federal rule for "no added sugar" claims turns on whether any were added.

Nutrient content claim

A label statement such as "Zero G Added Sugar" that describes how much of a nutrient a food contains. Federal rules limit when it can be used.

Parent company

A company that owns another. Bauer names Mars as KIND's parent and says it took part in the labeling decisions.

Putative class action

A lawsuit filed as a class action before a judge has certified a class.

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