Snapple Beverage Corp. makes Snapple brand fruit drinks that it advertises as being “All Natural,” although the complaint for this class action alleges they contain both citric acid, a chemical preservative, and added coloring. It claims that the product labeling is misleading.
Two classes have been proposed for this action:
- The New York Class is all persons in New York who bought the product during the applicable statutes of limitations.
- The Consumer Fraud Multi-State Class is all persons in Wyoming, Idaho, Iowa, and Montana who bought the product during the applicable statutes of limitations.
Page 1 of the complaint reproduces an image of a Snapple Apple juice drink, showing a large apple and apple wedge on the front label along with the words “All Natural.”
Consumers are attracted to “All Natural” products these days for a number of reasons, the complaint alleges, including that they believe that synthetic ingredients are not as healthy and not as good for the environment. “According to a recent Nielsen survey,” the complaint alleges, “a significant majority of consumers are willing to pay more for foods with natural ingredients as opposed to artificial ingredients.”
Page 2 of the complaint displays an image of the ingredient panel of the drink which shows the presence of “Citric Acid” and “Vegetable and Fruit Juice Concentrates (for Color)…” The complaint alleges that the presence of both these things is incompatible with the “All Natural” claim.
Originally, the complaint alleges, all citric acid was natural and made from citrus fruit. “For over a hundred years,” the complaint claims, “none of the production of citric acid has been natural because it is made beginning with fermentation from the Aspergillus niger mold.” The resulting citric acid, the complaint says, “must be recovered through numerous chemical reactions with synthetic mineral salts and reagents.”
The complaint also alleges that federal regulations require that when chemical preservatives are used in a food, the label must show both its common or usual name and its function, such as “preservative” or “to retard spoilage” or “to promote color retention.” The Snapple product does not identify the citric acid’s function, the complaint claims, or the fact that it is a chemical preservative.
The identification of the added color is also a problem, the complaint alleges: “The definition of natural includes the absence of added color, regardless of source.” Also, the complaint claims, while the added concentrate is natural, “it is not from apple and pear juices.”
Finally, the Nutrition Facts label shows calories and nutrients based on two different sizes, 8 ounces (half the bottle) and 16 ounces (the whole bottle). But the complaint alleges that the reference amount customarily consumed (RACC) for drinks that are not carbonated is 12 ounces. Furthermore, when consumers have a 16-ounce bottle of a drink, the complaint alleges, they will consume the whole bottle, so that the 8-ounce serving size is not appropriate.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Snapple “All Natural” Juice Drinks Labeling Complaint
February 19, 2023
Snapple Beverage Corp. makes Snapple brand fruit drinks that it advertises as being “All Natural,” although the complaint for this class action alleges they contain both citric acid, a chemical preservative, and added coloring. It claims that the product labeling is misleading.
Snapple “All Natural” Juice Drinks Labeling ComplaintCase Event History
Snapple “All Natural” Juice Drinks Labeling Complaint
February 19, 2023
Snapple Beverage Corp. makes Snapple brand fruit drinks that it advertises as being “All Natural,” although the complaint for this class action alleges they contain both citric acid, a chemical preservative, and added coloring. It claims that the product labeling is misleading.
Snapple “All Natural” Juice Drinks Labeling Complaint