Chosen Foods falsely marketed avocado oil mayonnaise and dressings, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

On Sept. 28, 2026, Nancy Zeldin filed a class action lawsuit against Chosen Foods LLC in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California. The lawsuit alleges Chosen Foods' mayonnaise and salad dressings contain undisclosed seed oils despite their labels advertising 100% pure avocado oil.

Chosen Foods' avocado oil products

Chosen Foods sells avocado oil and a line of avocado oil-based mayos, dressings and cooking sprays. The lawsuit covers three mayonnaise products (classic, vegan and chipotle) and six dressings and marinades (classic ranch, steakhouse caesar, lemon, zesty Italian, Greek artichoke and homestyle balsamic).

Each front label reportedly advertises 100% pure avocado oil, and each ingredient list names avocado oil as the only oil. The company's website also describes several of the products as free of soy and canola oils, the proposed class action claims.

The UC Davis study

The complaint cites a 2026 food science study from the University of California, Davis. Researchers there measured fatty acids and sterols, which act as chemical fingerprints for each oil, according to the lawsuit. The study reportedly found that 48 of 54 avocado oil-labeled products contained cheaper oils, including every salad dressing and 71% of the mayonnaises tested. The filing claims only one of 20 olive oil-labeled foods failed the same tests.

Citing brand information UC Davis released with the study, The lawsuit alleges every sample of Chosen's classic and vegan mayonnaises and its lemon garlic and zesty Italian dressings failed to match authentic avocado oil.

The alleged price premium

Shoppers allegedly pay more for avocado oil because it undergoes less processing than seed oils, tastes milder, resists burning at high heat and supplies vitamin E.

Zeldin says she avoids seed oils in her diet and chose the mayonnaise product she purchased because of its avocado oil label and an ingredient list naming no other oil. The complaint claims she would not have bought it, would have chosen a cheaper product or would have paid substantially less had she known about the other oils.

The legal claims

The lawsuit brings four claims:


  • California Unfair Competition Law, which bars unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business practices

  • California False Advertising Law, which prohibits untrue or misleading ads

  • California Consumers Legal Remedies Act, which bars misrepresenting a product's qualities or ingredients

  • Arizona Consumer Fraud Act, which covers deceptive sales practices and applies to the Arizona subclass

Zeldin seeks refunds and other damages for buyers, extra damages meant to punish the company, a court order stopping the labeling practice and payment of her legal fees.

What the lawsuit means for Chosen Foods buyers

The proposed nationwide class covers anyone in the United States who bought any of the nine products within the applicable limitations period through judgment or until the alleged conduct ends and an Arizona subclass covers anyone in that state who bought them.

There is no settlement, no claims process and no money available at this time.