A class action lawsuit has been filed against Smart Balance alleging that it does not include enough plant sterols in its spreadable butters to warrant the cholesterol- lowering health claim on the package label. The plaintiff acknowledges that while plant sterols can help lower cholesterol (at a minimum daily dose of 0.8 grams daily and a preferable daily dose of 2 grams), Smart Balance Spreadable Butter does not have sufficient levels of sterols to reduce cholesterol, containing only 100mg of plant sterols per 14 gram serving. The plaintiff states that Smart Balance is giving a false and misleading message since consumers eating about 15 tablespoons of the spread would still fall short of the 2 gram per day recommendation.
