Does Your Oat Milk Really Contain Vitamin D? A New Lawsuit Says No

The next time you reach for a carton of oat milk at the supermarket, you may want to pause for a closer look at the nutrition label. For shoppers who rely on plant-based milk as a dairy-free source of added nutrients, those details matter. Planet Oat, one of the category’s most visible brands, is now facing scrutiny over whether those numbers tell the full story.

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Misleading vitamin D claims

A class action lawsuit filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California alleges that Planet Oat misrepresents the amount of vitamin D in its original flavor oat milk. Plaintiff Theo LaBrusciano-Carris claims the product’s packaging states that each serving contains four micrograms of vitamin D, while independent testing conducted by an accredited laboratory allegedly found none.

Planet Oat

According to the complaint, the discrepancy is not minor. The lawsuit argues that Planet Oat’s labeling leads consumers to believe a single serving provides twenty percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin D, a nutrient many consumers actively seek in dairy alternatives. LaBrusciano-Carris claims he would not have purchased the product, or would have paid less for it, had he known the true vitamin D content.

The filing states: “Defendant failed to accurately fill the products with the correct amount of vitamin D as listed on the nutritional label and failed to accurately state the amount of vitamin D in the products.”

The lawsuit alleges violations of California’s False Advertising Law, Unfair Competition Law, and Consumer Legal Remedies Act, along with claims of breach of express warranty and unjust enrichment. The plaintiff is seeking to represent both a nationwide class and a California subclass of consumers who purchased the original oat milk product for household use.

An ‘Emily in Paris’ collaboration amid legal challenges 

While the legal challenge unfolds, Planet Oat has also leaned into a markedly different kind of visibility. The brand recently launched a limited-edition white chocolate raspberry oat milk creamer in collaboration with the Paramount Television Studios series Emily in Paris, which returns for a new season this month.

The creamer blends oat milk with white chocolate and raspberry flavors, positioning itself as a playful indulgence inspired by Parisian café culture. “Collaborating with Emily in Paris marks a fun new chapter for Planet Oat, blending the world of entertainment with a coffee ritual in a way that feels fresh and enjoyable,” Chris Ross, vice president of marketing and research and development at HP Hood LLC, said in a statement. “We know our consumers crave flavor, variety and sophistication, so pairing this cultural phenomenon with the indulgent profile of white chocolate raspberry allows us to bring a taste of Paris directly to their homes.”

Viacom International Inc.

The rollout includes a pop-up at L’Appartement 4F bakery in Brooklyn Heights, where visitors can sample drinks made with the new creamer. Actress Ashley Park, who stars in the series, has also partnered with the brand. “Planet Oat is my favorite oat milk brand, especially for its delicious and thoughtful flavors,” Park said in a statement. “And I couldn’t be more excited that this new coffee creamer is inspired by Emily in Paris. Not only is it absolutely perfect in my morning coffee, but it transports me back to the sweetness of Paris patisseries, giving me that feeling of sitting in my favorite café in the Marais Parisian chic for your coffee cup.”

What the lawsuit puts at stake

While the creamer serves as an occasional treat, consumers concerned with vitamin D consumption may need to supplement elsewhere. Vitamin D is one of the nutrients shoppers often look for when choosing plant-based milk, particularly for households replacing dairy entirely. LaBrusciano-Carris argues that the promise of twenty percent of the daily value per serving factored directly into his purchasing decision, a claim that sits at the heart of the complaint.

The lawsuit seeks declaratory and injunctive relief, along with compensatory, statutory, and punitive damages, and demands a jury trial. It also places Planet Oat among a growing list of food and beverage brands facing litigation over misleading nutrient claims, as courts continue to scrutinize how fortification is represented on packaging. For now, the complaint leaves a straightforward question on the table for oat milk buyers: when a carton promises a specific nutrient benefit, how closely does it match what’s actually inside?