Cholula Original Hot Sauce Recipe Changed, Lawsuit Claims

A newly filed proposed class action accuses McCormick of quietly changing the recipe for Cholula Original Hot Sauce after acquiring the brand, all while keeping the "Original" label on the bottle.

According to the complaint, the sauce's ingredient list used to include vinegar, but now lists acetic acid, apple cider vinegar, natural flavor, and a repositioned xanthan gum. The plaintiff claims McCormick swapped in cheaper, less traditional ingredients without properly disclosing the change, and that shoppers paid a premium price under the belief they were getting the same original formula as before.

The lawsuit brings claims under New York General Business Law Sections 349 and 350, and seeks class certification, statutory and compensatory damages, restitution, disgorgement of profits, attorneys' fees, and a jury trial.

Important: this is an early-stage lawsuit, not a settlement. No class has been certified yet, there's no claims process to join, and the available information doesn't include McCormick's response to the allegations.

The proposed class would cover New York consumers who bought Cholula Original Hot Sauce.