U.S. District Court for Eastern District of New York |

A federal judge in Trenton has ordered a New Jersey-based class action suit against Welch Foods Inc., maker of the popular Welch's fruit snacks that plaintiffs allege aren't as “natural” as advertised, must be moved to the Eastern District of New York.

U.S. District Judge Anne Thompson ordered the move on Oct. 5 after finding that nearly identical litigation has already been filed and is in discovery in the Eastern District.

“Although the causes of action on the New York litigation are under different state law … the nature of the issues, the relief sought, the products in question and the defendants all substantially overlap,” Thompson said in Hall v. Welch Foods.