TGI Friday's-branded 'mozzarella sticks' snacks contain no mozzarella, lawsuit claims

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(US District Court Northern District of Illinois)

An Illinois woman is suing the makers of TGIFriday’s mozzarella sticks snacks because contrary to its name, the pre-packaged snack doesn’t contain any mozzarella cheese.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Illinois, seeks class-action status against Utz Quality Foods’-owned Inventure Foods, the maker of the snacks, over "business practices that are unlawful, unfair and deceptive."

According to the lawsuit, Amy Joseph bought a six-pack of the branded mozzarella sticks snacks from Amazon in January 2021. She paid $22.95. It wasn’t until after they arrived that she realized the snacks contain cheddar cheese, not mozzarella.

"Since Plaintiff’s decision to purchase the Products was based on her belief that they were mozzarella sticks — which, by definition, contain mozzarella cheese — the products that Plaintiff purchased were rendered worthless to her," the lawsuit states. "In other words, Plaintiff received none of what she bargained for."

Joseph’s lawyer claims that federal law would require the bags to include the word "imitation" to note that they are not made from mozzarella, but the word doesn’t appear anywhere on the bag.

Utz Quality Foods declined comment.

"Had Plaintiff and Class members known the truth — i.e., that the Products do not contain any mozzarella cheese — they would not have been willing to purchase them at all," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit lists numerous reported health benefits of mozzarella cheese — it’s lower in calories, sodium, fat and cholesterol than other cheeses — "and at least within the context of the food known as ‘mozzarella sticks,’ the presence of mozzarella cheese is more desirable to consumers than other cheeses."

With mozzarella sticks being such a popular snack food, Joseph’s lawyer says a "simple Google search" reveals dozens of recipes for mozzarella sticks, all of which call for mozzarella cheese.

"In other words, the term ‘mozzarella sticks’—as it is commonly used in modern society—refers to a food that features mozzarella cheese as its primary ingredient," the lawsuit states.

The lawsuit is seeking unspecified "actual, punitive, enhanced, and statutory damages," as well as the "disgorgement of Defendants’ ill-gotten gains and restitution of money inequitably obtained by Defendants."
Plaintiff and the Class members;

A judge ruled in November that the case can move forward, but it removed TGIFriday’s from the lawsuit.

Woman sues Velveeta over 'false' cooking time claim

(Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Ten days before a Chicago judge ruled on the mozzarella case, a Florida woman filed a lawsuit against Velveeta alleging that the statement on its microwavable shells and cheese meal is false and misleading because the product takes longer to cook than the advertised 3 ½ minutes, FOX 35 Orlando reports.

Amanda Ramirez, of Hialeah, Florida filed the class action lawsuit against the Pennsylvania company on Nov. 18, alleging that she wouldn't have purchased the shells and cheese products or paid as much if the preparation time was correct.

According to the suit, consumers who see "ready in 3 ½ minutes" are led to believe it represents the total amount of time it takes to prepare the meal from start to finish, but the advertised time is the length of time it takes to complete one of several steps — the time it takes to cook in the microwave.

Ramirez is asking Velveeta to cease its "deceptive advertising" and inform customers that it will take longer than 3 ½ minutes to prepare the meal, the suit states. Ramirez is also seeking $5 million in damages.

The suit also alleges that Velveeta sold the product at higher prices than it would have if the product was labeled correctly.

FOX 35 Orlando contributed to this report.