LaCroix Class Action Says Sparkling Water Flavoring is 98% Synthetic

LaCroix beverages are not actually natural as various flavors contain up to 98 percent synthetic ingredients, according to a recent class action lawsuit.

The sparkling water beverages are characterized by their distinct “hint” of flavor which has been both ridiculed and lauded by consumers, according to the LaCroix class action lawsuit.

Plaintiffs Adenike Graham and Kimberly McNulty say LaCroix sparkling waters are marketed towards active and health conscious consumers as a healthier alternative to soda.

Although National Beverage Corp. reportedly uses “natural essence oils” extracted from fruit to flavor their products, the LaCroix sparkling water class action lawsuit claims these representations are false.

The company’s website reportedly states that there are “no sugars or artificial ingredients contained in, nor added to, these extracted flavors,” but the plaintiffs argue that artificial ingredients are included in the flavoring.

“In truth, Defendant’s natural claims are false, misleading and deceptive because the LaCroix Products are not all natural and, in fact, contain between 36% and 98% synthetic ingredients,” the LaCroix class action lawsuit claims.

The LaCroix sparkling water class action lawsuit against National Beverage claims that the company knew or should have known that their LaCroix beverages include synthetic ingredients. However, the company continues to advertise their products as natural in order to deceive consumers, the plaintiffs say.

“Rather than disclose this information, Defendant engaged in a widespread, uniform, marketing and advertising campaign that misrepresented the LaCroix Products as having only natural ingredients, when they do not,” the plaintiffs claim in the LaCroix natural labeling class action lawsuit.

Graham and McNulty say they were deceived by National Beverage’s misleading representations because they believed that the LaCroix products were all natural. The plaintiffs claim that they were willing to pay more for the products because they were “natural” than they might have had they known that the beverages contained synthetic ingredients.

Both Graham and McNulty purchased LaCroix beverages in December 2018 and were under the assumption that the products aligned with their natural/organic buying philosophy.

Later, Graham discovered that the products allegedly contain synthetic ingredients. Similarly, McNulty reportedly discovered that the all natural representations were “not true” after reading an online article.

“Plaintiffs and putative Class Members were, in fact, misled by Defendant’s labeling, representations and marketing of the LaCroix Products,” the LaCroix sparkling water class action states. “Plaintiff and Class Members would not have purchased the LaCroix Products, or would have paid less for them, had they known the products were not all-natural.”

Graham and McNulty seek to represent a Class of New York consumers who purchased LaCroix products during “the fullest period allowed by law”.

The LaCroix class action lawsuit seeks monetary damages, statutory damages, restitution, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

Plaintiffs and the proposed Class are represented by Mitchell M. Breit of Simmons Hanly Conroy LLC; Greg Coleman, Rachel Soffin, and Lisa A. White of Greg Coleman Law PC; Nick Suciu III of Barbat Mansour & Suciu PLLC; and Lauren Brusca of Brusca Law PLLC.

The LaCroix Natural Sparkling Water Class Action Lawsuit Graham, et al. v. National Beverage Corporation, Case No. 1:19-cv-00873-AT, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.