Welch's fruit snacks lawsuit: what it claims and who could get paid

What the Welch's lawsuits claim

The suits target Welch's Zero Sugar Fruity Bites, a fruit snack sold under the Welch's name. Plaintiffs say the "Zero Sugar" label is misleading because the snacks are sweetened with allulose, a sweetener they argue counts as a sugar. One complaint, Amer v. PIM Brands, adds a second claim: that the "No Preservatives" label is false because the product contains citric acid.

The named defendants are Welch Foods Inc., PIM Brands Inc. and Promotion In Motion Inc. Promotion In Motion makes and sells Fruity Bites under a license from Welch Foods. These are allegations only. Welch's has not been found liable, and we found no public response from the company in the sources we checked.

Why allulose is at the center

Allulose is a low-calorie sweetener that many brands use in "zero sugar" foods. Whether it counts as a sugar under federal labeling rules is the question driving a wave of lawsuits. On July 27, 2026, the Seventh Circuit reversed a dismissal in Franco v. Chobani, holding that allulose falls within the federal definition of sugar for the "zero sugar" rule (21 CFR 101.60), without deciding whether Chobani is liable. That ruling binds federal courts in the Seventh Circuit and is persuasive elsewhere.

It helps the Welch's plaintiffs make their argument, but it does not decide their cases. For more, read our guides on zero sugar label lawsuits and the Chobani lawsuit.

Who is in the proposed class

No judge has certified a class. The plaintiffs ask for a California-only class and a nationwide class, with subclasses in 30 states and the District of Columbia. The suits against PIM Brands also propose a New York-only class and multistate classes. The class period is not announced.

In practical terms, the people who could be covered are shoppers who bought Welch's Zero Sugar Fruity Bites. Whether anyone is paid depends on the cases surviving, a class being certified or a settlement being reached. Many food-labeling suits are narrowed, dismissed or settled for modest sums. Nothing is owed to you today, and any site offering to file a Welch's claim is not legitimate. Our settlement scam guide shows what to watch for.

Where the cases stand

The cases are spread across several federal courts. The defendants, Welch Foods and PIM Brands, asked the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation on Oct. 6, 2026 to send the putative class actions to the Eastern District of New York, arguing they all turn on whether the "Zero Sugar" label is false or misleading. The Amer case in California was stayed on Oct. 13, 2026 while the panel decides. As of a tracker's Oct. 15, 2026 update, no multidistrict case had been created, and we found no ruling. Judge and consolidated case number: not announced.

The case counts differ by source (four to six) because they were published on different dates. We rely on case trackers and news reports here rather than the dockets themselves, so check the court records if you need the latest.

What could happen next

First, the multidistrict panel decides whether to centralize the cases, and a judge is chosen. Then Welch's will likely ask to dismiss, arguing that shoppers were not misled or that federal law blocks the claims. If the cases survive, the parties exchange evidence, the plaintiffs seek class certification, and settlement talks may follow. That path usually takes years, and a settlement is not guaranteed.

If money ever becomes available, it would come with an official website, a claim form and a deadline. Our guides on how a class action works and what happens after certification walk through each stage.

How to get notified if it settles

Keep receipts or retailer order history for Zero Sugar Fruity Bites, since a settlement could ask for proof or let you claim without it. Watch for official notices, and read how to get notified of class action settlements. Owed finds settlements you may qualify for as they open, explains them in plain English, opens the official claim form and reminds you before deadlines, but you always submit the claim yourself. Owed Pro is $2 for the first week, then $49 per year — one flat membership. Owed never takes a percentage of any payout. Filing directly with an administrator is free. Browse the settlements directory for open claims today.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Courts decide who is in a class and what anyone is paid.

Glossary

Allulose

A low-calorie sweetener that some brands use in zero-sugar foods; the lawsuits argue it counts as a sugar.

Putative class action

A lawsuit filed for a large group before a judge has agreed the group can proceed together.

Multidistrict litigation (MDL)

A process where a panel of federal judges sends similar cases to one court for pretrial handling.

Class certification

A judge's ruling that a case can go forward for a whole group.

Defendant

The company being sued, here Welch Foods, PIM Brands and Promotion In Motion.

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