Quick Answer: Ancient Nutrition (Ancient Brands LLC) faces multiple active class action lawsuits alleging false advertising of its Bone Broth Protein powders and Brain Boost supplements. As of March 2026, no settlement has been finalized and no public claim form is open. If you purchased these products, you should monitor the cases and may eventually be eligible for compensation if a settlement is reached.
What Are the Ancient Nutrition Lawsuits About?
Ancient Brands LLC — the company behind the Ancient Nutrition supplement brand co-founded by Dr. Josh Axe and Jordan Rubin — is currently fighting several separate legal battles. Two involve consumer class action complaints; a third was brought by a competitor. Each case targets a different alleged form of deception.
The core theme across all cases is the same: plaintiffs say Ancient Nutrition told customers their products would do things the science doesn’t support, or that the labels misrepresented what was actually inside the container. These are the kind of allegations that, if proven, matter to anyone who spent $30–$50 or more on a premium supplement expecting real results. Ford EcoBoost Class Action Lawsuit
Overview of Active Lawsuits
| Case | Filed | Court | Core Allegation | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bush et al. v. Ancient Brands LLC | April 5, 2021 | N.D. New York (No. 21-0390) | Bone broth protein is mostly indigestible; labels mislead | Active — state law claims advanced May 2024 |
| Viera v. Ancient Brands LLC | March 23, 2023 | S.D. New York | Brain Boost supplement has no proven cognitive benefits | Active — discovery phase |
| Vital Proteins LLC v. Ancient Brands LLC | 2022 | N.D. Illinois (No. 1:2022cv02265) | Competitor alleges false protein marketing | Active — preliminary stages |
| California Prop 65 Settlement | 2019 | California AG | Lead/cadmium in supplements without warning | Resolved — $124,031 penalty paid |
Lawsuit #1: The Bone Broth Protein Case (Bush v. Ancient Brands)
This is the most significant consumer case. Two plaintiffs — Bush (New York) and Diaz (California) — filed a class action in April 2021 alleging that Ancient Nutrition’s Bone Broth Protein powders are marketed in a fundamentally misleading way.
The Specific Allegation
Ancient Nutrition labels claim the product contains 20 grams of protein per serving. That’s not the disputed part. What’s disputed is the quality of that protein.
The plaintiffs point to a scientific measurement called the Protein Digestibility Amino Acid Corrected Score (PDACCS) — described in the lawsuit as “the most reliable score of protein quality for human nutrition.” It rates proteins on a scale from 0 to 1.0, where 1.0 means the body can fully absorb and use it.
The problem? Collagen — the main protein source in bone broth powders — scores zero on the PDACCS scale. It’s largely indigestible and provides, according to the complaint, “little to no actual benefit” as a protein source.
Federal labeling rules require companies making protein content claims to disclose the protein quality as a percentage of daily value (calculated using PDACCS). The lawsuit says Ancient Nutrition listed only raw grams — not the quality metric — leaving customers to assume they were getting a fully usable dose of protein.
If you purchased the Pure, Vanilla, Chocolate, Turmeric, Coffee, or Banana flavor of Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth Protein, you bought a product at the center of this case.
Where This Case Stands
The case had a significant development in May 2024, when a federal judge ruled that the plaintiffs had successfully re-pleaded their claims under California and New York consumer protection laws, allowing the case to advance past a critical early hurdle. Bloomberg Law reported that the court found these state law claims could proceed through the “narrow gap” that federal food labeling law doesn’t fully preempt.
This is meaningful progress. The case is now in active litigation, working toward class certification — the stage where a judge decides whether it can proceed as a class action on behalf of all similarly affected buyers.
What “Class Certification” Means for You
Class certification is a pivotal moment. If granted, the court formally recognizes that thousands of consumers who bought the same product can collectively pursue their claims together rather than filing individual lawsuits. Once certified, a class action typically moves toward settlement negotiations.
No class certification ruling has been issued yet as of early 2026.
Lawsuit #2: The Brain Boost False Advertising Case (Viera v. Ancient Brands)
Plaintiff Marietta Viera filed this case in March 2023 in New York federal court, targeting Ancient Nutrition’s “Multi-Collagen Protein, Brain Boost” supplement.
What the Label Claims
The product’s label says it is “scientifically studied” and promises increased mental clarity and concentration. The secret ingredient, according to the packaging, is a proprietary blend called “Multi Collagen Complex & Brain Boost Blend.”
What the Lawsuit Says
The complaint alleges that none of the ingredients in the Brain Boost blend are scientifically proven to improve cognitive function. Despite the “clinically studied” language on the label, the case says no credible peer-reviewed research supports the product’s brain health claims.
The lawsuit specifically notes that many purchasers of this product are elderly consumers — people who may be particularly motivated by promises of cognitive support and potentially more vulnerable to misleading health claims.
This mirrors a wave of similar litigation against supplement companies in 2023–2025. A nearly identical case was filed against Onnit Labs (makers of Alpha Brain, promoted by Joe Rogan) — though that one was voluntarily dismissed in April 2025.
The Viera case against Ancient Nutrition remains active, currently in the discovery phase where both sides exchange evidence.
Lawsuit #3: The Competitor Case (Vital Proteins v. Ancient Brands)
This lawsuit is different in nature — it was brought not by consumers but by a direct competitor, Vital Proteins LLC. Filed in 2022 in the Northern District of Illinois (Case No. 1:2022cv02265), Vital Proteins alleges that Ancient Brands made false advertising claims about protein content that unfairly competed against Vital Proteins’ own products.
Competitor lawsuits like this are less common but can carry substantial weight — companies with resources to conduct independent testing and legal analysis can sometimes pursue these claims more aggressively than individual consumers. This case was in preliminary stages as of the most recent available reporting. Target Class Action Lawsuit 2026
The California Prop 65 Settlement (Already Resolved)
One Ancient Nutrition legal matter has already been resolved. Under California’s Proposition 65, which requires businesses to warn consumers about significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer or reproductive harm, Ancient Nutrition was investigated for failing to provide adequate warnings about lead and cadmium levels in its dietary supplement products.
The settlement, finalized with California’s Attorney General office, resulted in Ancient Nutrition paying $124,031 to the Environmental Research Center (ERC) for activities reducing consumer exposure to heavy metals in supplements.
This case is closed. If you were looking for compensation from this specific matter, that window has passed.
Who Could Qualify If a Settlement Is Reached?
No settlement exists yet, so there’s no official eligibility determination. But based on the complaints, here’s who the lawsuits appear designed to cover:
| Product | Purchase Period | States | Likely Claim Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth Protein (any flavor) | Approximately 2016–present | Primarily NY, CA (others possible) | Misleading protein quality |
| Ancient Nutrition Multi-Collagen Protein Brain Boost | Approximately 2021–2023+ | New York (federal court) | False cognitive benefit claims |
To be positioned to file a claim if a settlement is approved, you should:
- Keep any receipts, order confirmations, or bank/credit card statements showing your purchase
- Save product packaging or photos of it if you still have it
- Note approximately when and where you bought the product (online, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Target, etc.)
- Register for updates at ClassAction.org or TopClassActions.com, which track settlement approvals and claim deadlines
How Class Action Supplements Lawsuits Typically Resolve
Understanding what usually happens in cases like this helps set realistic expectations.
| Stage | What Happens | Typical Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Filing | Complaint submitted to court | Already done (2021, 2023) |
| Motion to dismiss | Defendant tries to get case thrown out | 1–2 years |
| Class certification briefing | Court decides if it’s a class action | 1–3 years |
| Discovery | Evidence exchange between parties | Ongoing |
| Settlement negotiations | Parties negotiate terms | Can happen anytime |
| Preliminary approval | Court approves settlement terms | After negotiation |
| Notice period | Class members notified | 60–90 days |
| Claim deadline | Consumers file claims | Usually 60–120 days post-notice |
| Final approval hearing | Court gives final sign-off | Typically 3–6 months post-notice |
| Payment distribution | Consumers receive money | 3–12 months after final approval |
Based on the trajectory of the bone broth case (filed 2021, state claims advancing in May 2024), a settlement could potentially emerge in 2026 or 2027 — though litigation can always move faster or slower than expected.
In comparable supplement false advertising cases, settlements have ranged considerably:
| Comparable Lawsuit | Settlement Amount | Approximate Per-Claim Payout |
|---|---|---|
| ZOA Energy “0 preservatives” | $3 million | Varies |
| Lemonaid Health data sharing | $3.25 million | Varies |
| Joybird/La-Z-Boy false discounts | $7.15 million | Varies |
| Mid America Pet Food recall | $5.5 million | Varies per situation |
Supplement false advertising settlements often land in the $1–10 million range, with individual payouts typically between $10–$50 per claimant for standard purchases, and higher amounts for documented damages.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
For most class action settlements, no — you don’t need an attorney. If and when a settlement is approved, the claim process is designed for ordinary people to complete themselves, usually online in 10–15 minutes.
That said, legal help can be valuable if:
- You purchased large quantities of the product (e.g., for a gym, supplement shop, or regular bulk buying)
- You suffered personal harm you believe is linked to the product
- You want to opt out of a class settlement and pursue individual claims for higher potential recovery
- You have complex eligibility questions
Most class action attorneys who handle supplement cases offer free consultations and work on contingency — they only get paid if the case succeeds. You can reach a legal referral for supplement cases by contacting admin@bestlawyersinunitedstates.com.
What Ancient Nutrition Has Said
Ancient Brands LLC has denied the allegations in all active consumer lawsuits, maintaining that its products comply with labeling laws and that its marketing claims are accurate. The company has not announced any voluntary settlement or recall in connection with these cases.
Ancient Nutrition continues to sell its Bone Broth Protein and Brain Boost product lines. The lawsuits have not resulted in any product pulls or FDA enforcement actions as of early 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Ancient Nutrition settled the class action lawsuit? No. As of March 2026, no consumer class action settlement has been finalized. The lawsuits are in active litigation. You cannot currently file a claim or expect payment.
What products are at the center of the lawsuits? The bone broth protein lawsuit covers Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth Protein in all flavors (Pure, Vanilla, Chocolate, Turmeric, Coffee, Banana, and others). The brain supplement case involves the Multi-Collagen Protein Brain Boost product.
Why is the protein in bone broth powder considered misleading? The lawsuit argues that collagen — the main protein in the product — scores near zero on the PDACCS scale, meaning your body can’t actually use it as a functional protein. So while the label says “20g protein,” what it doesn’t say is that most of it can’t be absorbed.
Where can I buy these products? Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth Protein has been sold at Sprouts Farmers Market, Target, Whole Foods, and online. Plaintiff Diaz in the bone broth case purchased from Sprouts and Target specifically.
When will I know if I can file a claim? You’ll know when a settlement is announced and a claims website goes live. The best way to stay informed is to sign up for alerts on TopClassActions.com or ClassAction.org with “Ancient Nutrition” as a search term.
What if I don’t have my receipts? In many supplement class actions, courts allow claims without receipts — often with a lower payment cap. Keep any documentation you have, but don’t assume you’re disqualified without it.
Is the California Prop 65 settlement still accepting claims? No. That settlement was resolved and paid to the Environmental Research Center, not individual consumers. It’s closed.
Could I sue Ancient Nutrition individually instead of waiting for the class action? Technically yes, though individual lawsuits over supplement purchases are rarely economically practical given the product cost. An attorney can advise you on whether your circumstances warrant it.
What does “discovery phase” mean for the Brain Boost case? It means both sides are exchanging evidence — internal documents, testing results, communications, financial data. This phase often reveals the information that drives settlement negotiations.
Will Ancient Nutrition have to change its labels? If the bone broth case resolves — whether through settlement or court ruling — the company may be required to update its protein labeling to include PDACCS-calculated percentages of daily value. This kind of corrective labeling is a common component of supplement false advertising settlements. Cosmic Crisp Apple Lawsuit
How to Stay Updated
The most reliable way to track these cases:
- ClassAction.org — search “Ancient Brands” for case filings and updates
- TopClassActions.com — tracks settlements and claim deadlines
- PACER (pacer.gov) — the federal court’s document system; search case no. 5:21-cv-00390 for the bone broth case
- LawGud.com — has been tracking the Ancient Nutrition litigation specifically
The Bottom Line
The Ancient Nutrition lawsuits represent a real and actively developing legal challenge to how the supplement industry labels and markets its products. If you’ve purchased Bone Broth Protein or Brain Boost supplements, there’s a reasonable chance you could be part of a class that eventually receives compensation — but that moment hasn’t arrived yet.
Don’t fall for websites claiming you can file a claim today and get paid. As of now, no such claim process exists. Save your documentation, monitor the cases, and file when — and only when — an official settlement with court approval is announced.
