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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges that Utz Quality Foods, LLC and Utz Brands, Inc. deceptively market Boulder Canyon and Good Health potato chips as being made with pure avocado oil.
A proposed nationwide class action lawsuit alleges that Utz Quality Foods, LLC and Utz Brands, Inc. deceptively market their Boulder Canyon and Good Health potato chips as being made exclusively with avocado oil when they are actually cooked in diluted or substituted oil blends.
The lawsuit, Mayo et al. v. Utz Quality Foods LLC et al. (Case No. 2:26-cv-05126), filed in federal court in August 2026, claims that independent laboratory testing confirmed the oil extracted from these popular snack products lacks the unique chemical markers of pure avocado oil.
If you purchased Boulder Canyon or Good Health “Avocado Oil” potato chips thinking you were buying a premium, heart-healthy product, you may have been overcharged for cheaper, lower-quality ingredients.
Here is what you need to know about the allegations against Utz and how you can take action.
The 27-page complaint alleges that Utz engages in deceptive marketing by labeling its Boulder Canyon Avocado Oil Classic Sea Salt Kettle Style Potato Chips and Good Health Kettle Style 100% Avocado Oil Potato Chips as being made with pure avocado oil.
According to court documents, consumers actively seek out avocado oil because it is rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidant properties. Because pure avocado oil is significantly more expensive to produce than standard cooking oils, companies charge a premium price for products that feature it.
The lawsuit claims that Utz capitalized on this health-conscious consumer trend while secretly using cheaper, refined oil blends. Independent testing highlighted in the suit revealed that the oil extracted from these chips contained fatty-acid and sterol profiles inconsistent with pure avocado oil, pointing instead to a diluted mixture or alternative oil substitute.
The lawsuit cites findings from a 2026 peer-reviewed University of California, Davis study that examined commercial food products labeled as containing single oils, such as avocado or olive oil.
Every oil possesses a distinct chemical fingerprint based on its natural fatty-acid distribution and sterol levels. When researchers tested samples extracted from Boulder Canyon and Good Health potato chips, the results failed to match authentic avocado oil.
Furthermore, researchers tested and ruled out the possibility that high frying temperatures or standard production heat could account for these chemical shifts. The lawsuit contends that reasonable consumers have no way of detecting this substitution on their own, as the product packaging directly advertises avocado oil and omits any disclosure of blended or secondary oils on the ingredient list.
When shoppers choose premium “better-for-you” snacks, they rely entirely on the accuracy of front-of-pack claims and ingredient statements. Consumers routinely pay double or triple the price of conventional potato chips because they believe they are making a healthier choice.
Under federal and state consumer protection standards, food manufacturers are legally obligated to provide truthful labeling. Falsely representing a product’s primary ingredients violates basic principles of consumer transparency.
Plaintiffs in the lawsuit allege that had they known the chips were cooked in cheaper or diluted oil blends, they would not have purchased them or would have paid significantly less for them. The suit claims Utz breached express warranties, committed fraud, and unjustly enriched itself at the expense of everyday shoppers.
The lawsuit seeks to represent a proposed nationwide class of all consumers in the United States who purchased:
Boulder Canyon Avocado Oil Classic Sea Salt Kettle Style Potato Chips
Good Health Kettle Style 100% Avocado Oil Potato Chips, Sea Salt
If you purchased either of these products during the covered class period, you may be part of the proposed class. The litigation is in its early stages in federal court, meaning there is no financial settlement or claim deadline established at this time.
However, keeping your purchase records, receipts, or grocery loyalty store account histories can be vital if a monetary settlement is negotiated in the future.
Class action lawsuits provide a necessary check on corporate power. When an individual consumer is overcharged by a few dollars on a bag of chips, taking legal action alone is rarely practical. However, when millions of consumers are impacted by the same misleading packaging, a class action allows everyday people to join together to demand justice.
Statutes such as state unfair trade practices laws, breach of warranty acts, and consumer fraud codes allow buyers to seek financial recovery, force companies to correct deceptive labels, and mandate independent quality testing.
By challenging misleading claims in court, consumers help ensure that corporations are held accountable for the accuracy of what they put on store shelves.
If you bought Boulder Canyon or Good Health avocado oil potato chips, you do not need to stand alone. Taking a few proactive steps now can protect your rights as the lawsuit progresses:
Save Your Receipts: Check your digital order histories, grocery delivery accounts, or paper receipts for proof of purchase.
Document the Products: Take photos of any remaining bags in your pantry, paying special attention to the front label claims and ingredient lists.
Stay Informed: Follow updates on active food labeling litigation to know when claim portals or settlement benefits become available.
Speak Up: If you believe you were misled by deceptive ingredient claims, you can share your experience to help strengthen consumer advocacy efforts.
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