By Steve Levine
Published: June 5, 2026
Status
Lawsuit Filed — No Settlement
filed May 29, 2026 in N.D. Cal. · allegations only · Pharmavite not found liable
Case
Spencer v. Pharmavite · 5:26-cv-05135-NW
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Product
Nature Made 500 mg Turmeric Capsules
the standard Nature Made turmeric advertising "antioxidant benefits"
Claim Form?
No — Nothing to File Yet
no payout and no claims process; keep any receipt in case that changes
What Is the Nature Made Turmeric Class Action Lawsuit About?
A Nature Made turmeric class action lawsuit alleges that Pharmavite LLC — the company behind the Nature Made supplement brand — falsely advertised its Nature Made 500 mg Turmeric Capsules as providing "antioxidant benefits" even though the capsules allegedly contain no absorption-enhancing additive (such as piperine, the compound in black pepper). According to the complaint, curcumin — the active compound in turmeric — is so poorly absorbed on its own that, without an absorption aid, the capsules cannot deliver the advertised benefits. The case, captioned Spencer v. Pharmavite LLC, Case No. 5:26-cv-05135-NW, was filed on May 29, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.This is a pending lawsuit, not a settlement. There is no settlement fund, no payout, and no claim form. The allegations described on this page come from the complaint and have not been proven in court. Pharmavite has not been found liable, no class has been certified, and there is nothing for shoppers to claim at this time. This page tracks the case so you can follow what happens next.
No turmeric class action claim form is available at this time. The case is still pending, and consumers generally cannot submit claims unless a settlement is reached and approved by the court. Anyone telling you that you can sign up today for a guaranteed Nature Made turmeric payment is not describing this lawsuit accurately.
Which Nature Made Product Is Named in the Lawsuit?
The complaint focuses on the Nature Made 500 mg Turmeric Capsules — the standard Nature Made turmeric product that, per the complaint, advertises at least 47.5 mg of curcuminoids per capsule and tells consumers it "provides antioxidant benefits" and helps "neutralize free radicals in the body." According to the complaint, the four named plaintiffs bought the product at retailers including Walmart, Ralphs (Kroger), Walgreens, Target, CVS, ShopRite, and Amazon between roughly 2020 and 2026.Importantly, the complaint draws a contrast with two other Nature Made turmeric products that it says do contain absorption aids: "Extra Strength Turmeric" (which the complaint says includes piperine) and "High Absorption Turmeric" (which the complaint says uses a formulation called TurmXTRA 60N). The lawsuit argues that because Pharmavite sells those enhanced products, it understood the absorption problem and chose to sell the standard capsules without an absorption aid anyway. The proposed classes exclude anyone who bought directly through naturemade.com.
What Does the Lawsuit Claim About Bioavailability and "Antioxidant Benefits"?
The complaint's core scientific allegation is about bioavailability — how much of an ingredient the body can actually absorb and use. As summarized from the complaint:• Turmeric's health benefits come from curcumin, but curcumin on its own is, the complaint alleges, very poorly absorbed — citing research that after a 2,000 mg dose of curcumin alone, blood levels were "either undetectable or very low."
• To work, the complaint alleges, turmeric supplements need a delivery system or absorption enhancer — such as a lipid complex, phytosome, micelle, or most commonly piperine (black pepper), which the complaint says can increase curcumin bioavailability by up to roughly 2,000%.
• The complaint alleges the Nature Made 500 mg Turmeric Capsules contain no such additive — and that the "other ingredients" listed (such as cellulose gel and hypromellose) are structural fillers and capsule material that do not aid absorption.
• Because of that, the complaint alleges, the capsules cannot deliver the advertised antioxidant benefit and are allegedly "no different than the turmeric sold in the spice aisle of the grocery store."
Those are the plaintiffs' allegations. They have not been tested in court, and Pharmavite has not yet responded to the complaint. Pharmavite is expected to deny the allegations and may argue, among other things, that the labeling is accurate, that turmeric/curcumin does provide antioxidant activity, and that no reasonable consumer was misled. Nothing here is a finding of fact against Pharmavite or Nature Made.
Why Black Pepper (Piperine) Matters in Turmeric Supplements
The reason black pepper keeps coming up is that piperine — the active compound in black pepper — is, according to the complaint, the cheapest and most common way to make curcumin absorbable. The complaint alleges piperine slows the body's breakdown of curcumin and helps more of it pass into the bloodstream, and cites a well-known human study finding that adding a small amount of piperine increased curcumin bioavailability by about 2,000%. The complaint's theory is not that black pepper is legally required — it's that some absorption enhancer is necessary for the advertised benefit, and the named product allegedly has none. This is the plaintiffs' characterization of the science, not a court finding.How Much More Does Nature Made Turmeric Allegedly Cost?
A big part of the case is the alleged price premium. The complaint includes a comparison arguing that shoppers pay more for the Nature Made capsules than for competing turmeric supplements that do include an absorption aid. As laid out in the complaint:| Product | Price per 500 mg capsule (per complaint) | Absorption aid? |
|---|---|---|
| Nature Made Turmeric Capsules | ~$0.23 | No |
| Kirkland Signature Turmeric | ~$0.13 | Yes (black pepper) |
| CVS Turmeric Complex | ~$0.12 | Yes |
| Walgreens Turmeric Complex | ~$0.13 | Yes (BioPerine) |
The complaint also argues that a teaspoon of plain grocery-store turmeric contains roughly four times the curcuminoids of one capsule at a fraction of the cost — the basis for its allegation that consumers overpaid for what it calls a functionally inferior product.
Is There a Nature Made Turmeric Settlement?
No. There is no Nature Made turmeric settlement. No settlement has been announced, no settlement fund exists, and no court has approved any payment. This is an active complaint at the earliest stage of litigation. If the parties ever reach a settlement, it would need to be filed with the court and receive preliminary and final approval before any money is distributed — a process that typically takes many months or years, and only if the case is not dismissed first.Is There a Turmeric Class Action Claim Form?
No. There is no turmeric class action claim form, and there is nothing to submit right now. Claim forms only exist after a settlement is reached and a court approves a claims process, including an official claims website and instructions. Because this case is still at the complaint stage, no such website or form exists. If that changes, OCA will update this page.If you come across a website asking for your personal or payment information to "claim your Nature Made turmeric money," treat it with caution. Newly filed class actions frequently attract copycat or scam sites; there is no legitimate turmeric claim process at this time.
Can Shoppers Sign Up for Money Yet?
No. There is no payout available and no way to sign up for money in this case right now. At the complaint stage, class members do not need to take any action and cannot file a claim. The most a shopper can do is keep any proof of purchase (a receipt or store purchase history) in case the case eventually settles and a claims process is created — though even then, many consumer settlements allow a limited number of claims without a receipt. Holding onto a receipt is optional and is not required to follow the case.Who Could Be Included If the Case Becomes a Settlement?
The complaint proposes a nationwide class and three state subclasses. These are proposed definitions only; no class has been certified, and the court has not approved any of them. As described in the complaint, the classes cover people who bought the Nature Made Turmeric Capsules (not through naturemade.com) within the relevant time periods:• Nationwide Class: all U.S. purchasers of the Turmeric Capsules.
• California Subclass: California purchasers.
• New York Subclass: New York purchasers.
• New Jersey Subclass: New Jersey purchasers.
The complaint asserts more than $5 million is at stake (the threshold for federal jurisdiction under the Class Action Fairness Act) and that the product has been purchased by hundreds of thousands — if not millions — of consumers. Final class definitions, if the case gets that far, would be set by the court or in a settlement notice.
What Happens Next in the Turmeric Lawsuit?
The case is at the very start. Typical next steps in a consumer false-advertising case like this include:• Pharmavite's response. Pharmavite will be served and will likely file an answer or, more commonly in these cases, a motion to dismiss arguing the complaint fails to state a claim.
• Motion practice. The court rules on any motion to dismiss. Many supplement and food-labeling cases are narrowed or dismissed at this stage; others survive and move forward.
• Discovery and class certification. If the case proceeds, the parties exchange evidence and the plaintiffs move to certify a class under Rule 23. Certification decisions often come 12 to 24 months after filing.
• Settlement or trial. Many consumer cases settle; others are dismissed or litigated. Only if a settlement is reached and approved — or the plaintiffs prevail — would there be any payout or claims process.
None of these steps has happened yet. There is no scheduled payout, no claim deadline, and no settlement hearing. OCA will update this page as the docket moves.
Has Nature Made (Pharmavite) Been Found Liable?
No. Pharmavite has not been found liable and has not admitted any wrongdoing. The lawsuit contains allegations, not proven facts. A complaint is only one side's version of events; Pharmavite has the right to respond, contest the claims, and defend its labeling and the science behind it. Unless and until a court or a settlement says otherwise, the bioavailability and "antioxidant benefits" allegations remain unproven. This article reports what the complaint alleges; it is not legal advice and is not a statement that Pharmavite or Nature Made did anything wrong.How Do I Find Class Action Settlements?
Find all the latest class actions you can qualify for by getting notified of new lawsuits as soon as they are open to claims:Official Class Action Complaint (Court Document)
Nature Made Turmeric Lawsuit FAQ
Is there a Nature Made turmeric class action settlement?
No. This is a newly filed complaint, not a settlement. There is no settlement fund, no payout, and no claim form. The allegations have not been proven and Pharmavite has not been found liable.
Is there a turmeric class action claim form?
No. No claim form is available at this time. The case is still pending, and consumers generally cannot submit claims unless a settlement is reached and approved by the court.
Which turmeric product is included in the lawsuit?
The Nature Made 500 mg Turmeric Capsules — the standard product that advertises "antioxidant benefits." The complaint distinguishes it from Nature Made's Extra Strength Turmeric and High Absorption Turmeric, which it says do contain absorption aids. Purchases through naturemade.com are excluded.
What does the turmeric lawsuit allege?
That curcumin is poorly absorbed on its own, that the named capsules contain no absorption enhancer such as piperine (black pepper), and that as a result they allegedly can't deliver the advertised antioxidant benefits — yet are sold at a premium over grocery turmeric and competitors that do include an absorption aid. These are unproven allegations.
Does the lawsuit say Nature Made turmeric is unsafe?
No. The complaint does not allege the capsules are dangerous or contaminated. It is an economic, false-advertising case: the theory is that consumers overpaid for a product that allegedly cannot deliver the advertised benefit.
Can I get money from the turmeric class action?
Not at this time. There is no settlement, no payout, and no claim process. If the case is certified and later settles or wins, a payout could follow, but that outcome is not guaranteed and would likely be a long way off.
Has Nature Made been found liable?
No. The lawsuit is at the complaint stage. The allegations have not been proven, no class has been certified, and Pharmavite is expected to deny wrongdoing and may move to dismiss the case.
Who filed the turmeric lawsuit and what is the case number?
Four named plaintiffs — Benjamin Spencer, Shaun Pilon, Damany Browne, and Lynn Guenther (from California, New York, and New Jersey) — represented by Grant & Eisenhofer P.A. and Seeger Weiss LLP. The case is Spencer v. Pharmavite LLC, Case No. 5:26-cv-05135-NW, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, filed May 29, 2026.
Sources
• Spencer v. Pharmavite LLC, Case No. 5:26-cv-05135-NW, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Class Action Complaint filed May 29, 2026)• Shoba et al., Influence of Piperine on the Pharmacokinetics of Curcumin (Planta Medica, 1998)
• Hewlings & Kalman, Curcumin: A Review of Its Effects on Human Health (Foods, 2017)
• Nature Made (Pharmavite) official website
• Plaintiffs' Counsel: Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.; Seeger Weiss LLP
Allegations Only · No Settlement Yet
This page covers a newly filed class action complaint. The allegations described
above have not been proven in court. Pharmavite (Nature Made) has not been found
liable, has not admitted wrongdoing, and is expected to deny the claims. There is no
settlement, no settlement fund, and no claim form. Any potential recovery for class
members would be a long way off and is not guaranteed.
About This Page
This page summarizes the Nature Made turmeric class action complaint in Spencer v. Pharmavite LLC, 5:26-cv-05135-NW (N.D. Cal.). OpenClassActions.com is a consumer news site and is not a law firm, claims administrator, or party to this case. The allegations in the complaint have not been proven in court, and Pharmavite denies wrongdoing. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. If you have questions about how this case may affect you personally, contact a qualified attorney in your jurisdiction.
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Submit Claim| Nature Made Turmeric Case Snapshot | |
| Status | Lawsuit Filed — No Settlement, No Claim Form |
|---|---|
| Case Title | Spencer v. Pharmavite LLC |
| Case Number | 5:26-cv-05135-NW |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California |
| Filing Date | May 29, 2026 |
| Plaintiffs | Benjamin Spencer (CA); Shaun Pilon (CA); Damany Browne (NY); Lynn Guenther (NJ) |
| Defendant | Pharmavite LLC (Nature Made brand), West Hills, California |
| Plaintiffs' Counsel | Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.; Seeger Weiss LLP |
| Product | Nature Made 500 mg Turmeric Capsules (excludes purchases via naturemade.com) |
| What's Alleged | The capsules lack an absorption enhancer (e.g., piperine/black pepper) and allegedly can't deliver the advertised "antioxidant benefits," yet sell at a premium |
| Counts | California UCL, FAL & CLRA; New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act; New York GBL §349 & §350; breach of express & implied warranty; unjust enrichment |
| Proposed Classes | Nationwide; California; New York; New Jersey — none certified |
| Amount in Controversy | Alleged to exceed $5 million (CAFA threshold) |
| Is There a Claim Form? | No. There is no settlement and no claim form. Class members do not need to take action at this stage. |
| Potential Payout | None at this time. No settlement has been reached. |
| Category | News / Class Action Complaint / Dietary Supplements / Nature Made / Turmeric |