Firm sued for alleged unnatural ingredients

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SAN FRANCISCO, July 27 (UPI) -- A lawsuit filed in California against Nature Valley alleges its granola bars advertised as "100 percent natural ingredients," contain artificial ingredients.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California on behalf of two California women -- both of whom sought natural products because of their physicians' advice -- has the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington acting as co-counsel, the Center for Science in the Public Interest said.

In a release, the center said Nature Valley describes Nature Valley Chewy Trail Mix bars on its as labels: "Our Chewy Trail mix bars are made with delicious combinations of 100 percent natural ingredients like whole almonds, cranberries, peanuts and pomegranate."

Michael F. Jacobson, executive director of the CSPI, said the product contains high-maltose corn syrup and maltodextrin, which are highly processed and do not exist in nature.

"High-maltose corn syrup and maltodextrin are both produced by applying acids, enzymes, or acids and enzymes in sequence to corn starch, depolymerizing the starch to glucose and maltose," court papers say. "The acids or enzymes are then neutralized, removed, or deactivated, and the resulting product is then refined, purified, and concentrated."