PepsiCo Backs Away From Claiming Products Are “Natural”

PepsiCo is the latest company to ditch the labeling claim “natural” in some products to avoid angering litigious consumers who strongly believe “natural” products should contain no synthetic or GMO ingredients. Because the FDA hasn’t yet imposed a definition of natural, companies have been mostly free to apply the claim on products, setting off waves of lawsuits. To sidestep the problem, PepsiCo is gradually replacing “natural” with “simply” on packages. “Simply Natural” Frito-Lay potato chips are now “Simply”, though it hasn’t changed the ingredients. “Natural Quaker Granola” is now “Simply Quaker Granola”. Other companies that have made similar changes in labeling include Ben & Jerry's and Breyers ice cream products and Campbell Soup’s Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers.