Class action lawsuit filed against maker of Natural American Spirit cigarettes

A law firm based in Florida has filed a first attempt at a class-action lawsuit against the company, which was formed about three decades ago and since then it has been using the words “natural” and “additive-free” in marketing the products.

Credit: taosalive.wordpress.comAccording to the Santa Fe New Mexican, the lawsuit was filed by Justin Sproule, seeking damage compensation to him and other people who, “smoke American Spirits because they have been deceived by claims, labels and advertising into regarding them as safer than other cigarettes”.

The lawsuit cites a recent warning issued to the company by the Food and Drug Administration that their claims of “additive free” and “natural” violate federal law.

Santa Fe Natural Tobacco already is subject to a Federal Trade Commission consent order, entered in 2000, that requires the company’s advertising to include a disclosure that “No additives in our tobacco does NOT mean a safer cigarette”.

On August 27 the agency had written to the company to abide by the 2009 law and modify the risk tobacco products.

Parent company Reynolds American earlier this week disclosed they are selling off their rights in the Natural American Spirit cigarettes outside of the USA for $5 billion to Japan Tobacco Group.

Natural American Spirit is an American brand of cigarette and fine tobacco products, manufactured in the United States by the Santa Fe Natural Tobacco Company.

Reynolds American remains the parent company to Pall Mall, Newport, and Camel among others.

We believe this sale once again demonstrates our commitment to creating value for our shareholders.