Claim:
In 2025, Chobani was facing a class action lawsuit alleging that its yogurts contain phthalates, chemicals that have been linked to hormone disruption.
Rating:
Context
Chobani said in a statement that “the court indicated it will dismiss the case in a formal order” during an August hearing. Such an order was not publicly available at the time of publication.
In late October 2025, social media users claimed Chobani was facing a class action lawsuit alleging that some of its “all-natural” yogurts contain chemicals called phthalates that have been linked to hormone disruption.
According to a Facebook post (archived), the lawsuit asserts that Chobani “engaged in false advertising by labeling certain products as ‘natural,'” despite independent tests detecting multiple types of phthalates in its nonfat and whole milk plain Greek yogurts. Phthalates are reportedly linked to health risks such as reproductive and developmental issues, and some are classified as possible human carcinogens, the post said.
Similar claims about a Chobani class action lawsuit circulated elsewhere on Facebook and on Instagram (archived here, here and here). Multiple Snopes readers also searched our website to confirm whether the lawsuit was legitimate.
Court records show a California resident filed a class action complaint alleging that Chobani yogurt products contain phthalates in April 2025. Therefore, we’ve rated this claim true.
We could not definitively confirm the accuracy of the lawsuit’s claims at the time of publishing. The company has not been found legally liable for any wrongdoing and no regulatory agency has confirmed the presence of phthalates in its products.
Chobani said in an emailed statement to Snopes that the court previously indicated it would dismiss the case in a formal order. The company also asserted that its products are made with only natural ingredients, contrary to the class action complaint’s claims. The full statement is as follows:
Chobani has moved to dismiss the allegations raised by plaintiff Wysocki as they lack merit. In a hearing held in August, the court indicated it will dismiss the case in a formal order. As we have always maintained, our products include only natural ingredients. We are looking forward to the court’s decision.
Phthalates, which are chemicals used in plastic products, have been linked to hormone disruptions, as the lawsuit and social media posts claim. However, if Chobani yogurts do contain phthalates, they may not be alone. Consumer Reports said in 2024 that the chemical appeared in almost every one of the dozens of food products it tested, often at high levels.
What the lawsuit alleges
Amy Wysocki, the plaintiff in the proposed class action lawsuit against Chobani, claims she bought the company’s nonfat plain Greek yogurt in 2023 after relying on its labeling that advertised “only natural ingredients.” She says she had no reason to believe the yogurt might contain unsafe levels of phthalates and expected it to be free of “non-natural toxic chemicals.” Wysocki would not have purchased the product, or would not have done so on the same terms, had she known the truth, the lawsuit alleges.
According to the complaint filed on April 16, 2025, testing conducted by independent research organization PlasticList reportedly found multiple plastic chemicals, including four types of phthalates, in Chobani yogurt products. The lawsuit claims these chemicals likely leached from the yogurts’ plastic containers.
The complaint contends that Chobani either knew about the alleged contamination or failed to prevent it.
As mentioned above, Chobani dismissed Wysocki’s allegations as lacking “merit” and maintained that its products “include only natural ingredients.”
What are phthalates and can they harm your health?
Phthalates are chemicals added to plastic products to make them soft and flexible. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), some types of phthalates have historically been used in food packaging and other materials.
The FDA currently allows the use of nine phthalates in materials that come into contact with food, though they cannot be directly added to food. The agency says it continues to evaluate the safety of these chemicals as new research emerges.
Scientific evidence suggests that phthalates may disrupt the body’s hormone systems. A 2021 scientific review concluded that repeated exposure to phthalates could adversely affect the endocrine system and functioning of multiple organs.
The Endocrine Society also notes on its website that phthalates can reduce testosterone and estrogen levels, interfere with thyroid hormone function and act as “reproductive toxicants.” Some research also suggests a link between phthalate exposure and an increased risk of obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Some studies suggest an association between exposure to certain phthalates and increased cancer risk, though the evidence is mixed and more research is needed to fully understand the potential health effects.
