Gatorade class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: A group of consumers filed a class action lawsuit against PepsiCo Inc. and The Gatorade Company.
- Why: The plaintiffs claim Gatorade falsely advertises that its products hydrate better than water and contain no artificial ingredients.
- Where: The Gatorade class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court.
A new class action lawsuit alleges Gatorade misleads consumers by falsely advertising that its sports drinks hydrate better than water and contain no artificial ingredients.
Lead plaintiff John Leam filed the class action complaint against PepsiCo and Gatorade on May 21 in New York federal court, alleging violations of state consumer laws.
According to the lawsuit, Gatorade’s packaging prominently claims that its sports drinks “hydrate better than water” and contain “no artificial flavors, sweeteners or colors from artificial sources.”
However, the plaintiffs allege these claims are false and misleading.
The class action lawsuit argues that scientific evidence does not support the claim that Gatorade hydrates better than water. In fact, the lawsuit cites medical experts who say sports drinks like Gatorade are not necessary for low-intensity exercise and that plain water is usually the best choice for hydration.
The lawsuit also points out that Gatorade contains high levels of sugar and sodium, which can have negative health effects. Despite this, the class action says Gatorade’s packaging does not include any warnings about the potential health risks of consuming the product.
Gatorade allegedly contains artificial ingredients
The class action lawsuit takes issue with Gatorade’s claim that its reduced-sugar products contain no artificial ingredients.
The plaintiffs argue that the products contain citric acid, which is commonly used as an artificial flavoring agent. The lawsuit says citric acid is commercially produced and not derived from natural sources, making it an artificial ingredient.
The plaintiffs in the Gatorade class action lawsuit claim they relied on Gatorade’s misleading advertising when purchasing the products and would not have bought them or paid as much for them if they had known the truth.
The lawsuit seeks class action status for consumers who purchased Gatorade products with the alleged false advertising.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages, restitution and an order requiring Gatorade to change its advertising practices.
Last year, Frito-Lay North America Inc. and PepsiCo Inc. were slapped with a lawsuit claiming the companies unlawfully track consumers who visit their websites.
What do you think of the claims made in this Gatorade class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Blake Hunter Yagman of Yagman PLLC.
The Gatorade class action lawsuit is Leam, et al. v. PepsiCo Inc., et al., Case No. 1:26-cv-04258, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
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