Monster Energy Class Action Lawsuit: Vanilla Espresso Drinks Don’t Contain Vanilla

A Monster Energy class action lawsuit claims that the company’s espresso drinks do not contain real vanilla as their labeling implies.

Although Monster Beverage Company is known for selling a wide range of energy drinks, the company also sells a series of “Triple Shot” espresso energy drinks blended with European milk.

These drinks are marketed as “vanilla cream” and include images of a vanilla flower, but may not actually contain real vanilla.

According to plaintiff Akash Budhani’s recent Monster class action, the espresso energy drinks do not actually contain real vanilla despite being marketed as having “vanilla cream” flavor.

Budhani notes that vanilla is a prized flavor which is, unfortunately, often the subject of imitation and food fraud. Genuine vanilla often cannot meet the demand for the flavor, allegedly leading manufacturers to turn to alternative sources.

Vanillin, the main flavor component, is a “persistent challenger to the authenticity of real vanilla,” according to Budhani. Although this substance is naturally occurring in vanilla, it can also be created synthetically.

The Monster Energy drink class action argues that only one to two percent of vanillin in commercial use is derived from the vanilla bean. Instead, the majority of vanillin allegedly “has no connection to the vanilla bean.”

Instead of “vanilla extract” or another genuine vanilla flavor, the Monster energy drink ingredient list reportedly only includes “natural flavors.” Budhani claims that, if the products contained real vanilla in addition to natural flavors, the vanilla flavoring would be stated separately from the “natural flavors” listing.

The Monster class action lawsuit states that the manufacturer intentionally misrepresents its products as containing real vanilla. As a result of these representations, the company is allegedly able to charge higher prices for each unit than they would have otherwise been able to.

“The amount and proportion of the characterizing component, vanilla, has a material bearing on price or consumer acceptance of the Products because consumers are willing to pay more for such Products,” Budhani argues in the Monster Energy class action suit.

“The value of the Product that plaintiff purchased and consumed was materially less than its value as represented by defendant.”

Budhani says that she and other consumers would not have purchased the Monster Energy drinks or would have paid significantly less if they were aware of the false advertisements.

In the Monster class action lawsuit, Budhani seeks to represent a Class of consumers who purchased the products in New York and all other 49 states.

On behalf of this proposed Class, Budhani brings claims of negligent misrepresentation, fraud, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty of merchantability, violation of the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act, and violation of consumer protection laws.

The Monster Energy drink class action seeks injunctive relief, restitution, disgorgement, monetary damages, treble damages, punitive damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

Did you purchase Monster Energy drinks believing that the products contained real vanilla? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

Budhani and the proposed Class are represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC.

The Monster Energy Vanilla Drink Class Action Lawsuit is Budhani v. Monster Beverage Company, Case No. 1:20-cv-01409, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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