Coca-Cola moves to toss deceptive labeling claims over Sprite and Fanta

Update:

• Coca-Cola has urged California District Judge George H. Wu to dismiss a proposed class action alleging it falsely labeled Sprite and Fanta sodas as containing “100% natural flavors” despite including citric acid and other synthetic ingredients.
• The company argues plaintiff Victoria Palmer has not plausibly alleged that the citric acid is artificial or functions as a flavor under U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations.
• Coca-Cola maintains that the ingredients named in the complaint serve as flavor enhancers or preservatives, not artificial flavors.
• The company also claims Palmer lacks standing to sue over products she did not purchase, such as Fanta flavors beyond orange, and asserts her claims are preempted by federal regulations.
• Coca-Cola further argues that the plaintiff’s allegations do not meet the legal standards required to support a viable consumer deception claim under California law.

Coca-Cola class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Victoria Palmer filed a class action lawsuit against The Coca-Cola Company.
• Why: Palmer claims Coca-Cola falsely advertises its Sprite and Fanta products as being made with 100% natural flavors.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

A new nationwide class action lawsuit claims The Coca-Cola Company falsely advertises its Sprite and Fanta products as being made with 100% natural flavors despite containing synthetic ingredients.

Plaintiff Victoria Palmer filed the class action complaint against Coca-Cola on May 27 in a California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

Palmer argues that Coca-Cola’s Sprite and Fanta products are misbranded as containing “100% Natural Flavors” when they actually include synthetic ingredients, such as citric acid, sodium citrate and potassium citrate.

Palmer claims these synthetic ingredients contribute significantly to the products’ flavor profiles, making the “100% Natural Flavors” claim false and misleading under both federal and California law.

Coca-Cola’s labeling violates federal and state laws, class action claims

Palmer argues that Coca-Cola’s labeling practices violate several federal and state laws, including the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law.

“Had Plaintiff been aware that the labeling and marketing of the Class Products contained false and deceptive misrepresentations, she would not have purchased the Class Products or would have paid less for them,” the Coca-Cola class action states.

The plaintiff also argues that “sweetness is a fundamental component of how flavor is experienced” and that no reasonable consumer would expect a product labeled and marketed as containing “100% Natural Flavors” to also include artificial sweeteners, as the stated products do. 

Palmer wants to represent a nationwide class and California subclass of consumers who purchased one or more of the Sprite and Fanta products that were marketed or represented as being made with “100% Natural Flavors.”

The Coca-Cola class action lawsuit demands a jury trial and seeks actual damages, prospective injunctive relief, restitution and disgorgement of all ill-gotten profits.

In 2024, Coca-Cola issued a recall for Minute Maid Zero Sugar Lemonade due to incorrect labeling of the zero sugar version.

What do you think of the claims in this Coca-Cola class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Abbas Kazerounian, Jason A. Ibey and Gil Melili of Kazerouni Law Group APC.

The Coca-Cola class action lawsuit is Palmer v. The Coca-Cola Company, Case No. 2:25-cv-04777, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

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