Kellogg will no longer use the words "all natural" or "nothing artificial" on particular Kashi and Bear Naked products, come 2015.
According to the Associated Press, a California U.S. District Court lawsuit ruled the company must pay a $5 million settlement, after reportedly making consumers believe products had all natural ingredients.
Instead, some contained synthetic and artificial contents, including hydrochloride, calcium pantothenate, hexane-processed soy ingredients, ascorbic acid, glycerin and sodium phosphate.
The company also said it will alter its productions methods, as part of its concession.
"(We) will make the decision to change our formulas on our labels by the end of the year," the food maker said in a statement. "We stand behind our advertising and labeling practices.
An attorney for a health and wellness law firm told USA Today improper labeling lawsuits have become commonplace.
"Companies are now trying to find words other than 'all natural' since that's been the subject of so many lawsuits," Liv Kiser said. "We can expect companies to react to this by using fewer absolutes on their labels."
PepsiCo also took the phrase "all natural" from the company's Naked Juice Brand. The modification stemmed from a lawsuit claiming the company's beverages had artificial ingredients, AP reported.
According to USA Today, Frito Lay changed their Simply Natural chip brand to Simply. Quaker also adjusted the company's Natural Quaker Granola products to Simply Quaker Granola.
Kiser said companies will likely see more activity prompting changes in the food industry.
"Companies can expect this kind of litigation to continue," Kiser said.
Kellogg's orders now await approval from court - the decision was announced May 2.
The AP states the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not defined what natural means since food is no longer original once a company grabs hold of it.
The USDA has not ruled out, however, using the word on products without extra color, artificial flavors, or synthetic substances.
