Coca-Cola class action claims piña colada Fanta falsely advertised as having 100% natural flavors

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Coca-Cola pina colada Fanta class action overview: 

• Who: A pina colada Fanta consumer is suing The Coca-Cola Company. 
• Why: The plaintiff says the product is falsely advertised as containing 100% natural flavors.
• Where: The Coca-Cola pina colada Fanta class action was filed in a Missouri federal court.

A piña colada Fanta consumer is suing The Coca-Cola Co. in a class action lawsuit alleging the product is falsely advertised as containing 100% natural flavors when it contains DL-malic acid.

Plaintiff Kevin Jordan filed the class action lawsuit against The Coca-Cola Co. on Jan. 9 in a Missouri federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

According to the lawsuit, The Coca-Cola Co. makes and sells piña colada-flavored soda under the Fanta brand purporting to have “100% Natural Flavors.” 

“However, the representations are false, deceptive, and misleading because the Product contains DL-Malic Acid, an artificial ingredient which imparts the flavor of pineapple and coconut,” the lawsuit states.

The representation that the product has “100% Natural Flavors” appeals to the “more than seven out of ten consumers” who avoid artificial flavors, as these synthetic ingredients are believed to be associated with detrimental health and environmental effects, Jordan alleges.

Therefore, by falsely marketing the product as having 100% percent natural, Coca-Cola has an advantage over other brands that are honest in their marketing, the lawsuit alleges. 

Coca-Cola saved money by using artificial flavoring, lawsuit alleges

Coca-Cola could have used natural flavoring alternatives such as L-malic acid from pineapple, coconuts or other fruits, a natural version of citric acid or natural pineapple and coconut flavors, the lawsuit alleges. Instead, it used artificial DL-malic Acid because it cost less, Jordan says.

“DL-Malic Acid is not a ‘natural flavor’ as defined by federal and state regulations, because it is not from a fruit, vegetable or other natural source, nor is it made through a natural process.”

The plaintiff seeks to represent a Missouri class of consumers who bought the product, plus a consumer fraud multistate class of consumers from Oklahoma, South Dakota and North Dakota.

He’s suing for alleged violations of state consumer laws, breach of warranty, fraud, unjust enrichment and negligent misrepresentation. He’s seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial. 

Last year, Coca-Cola was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging it markets dragon fruit-flavored Fanta as containing natural flavors when the dragon fruit flavor comes from malic acid.

Did you buy piña colada Fanta? Let us know your thoughts on this lawsuit in the comments! 

The plaintiff is represented by Daniel F. Harvath of Harvath Law Group LLC.

The Coca-Cola class action lawsuit is Kevin Jordan, et al. v. The Coca-Cola Co., Case No. 4:23-cv-00028, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri. 

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