Polar seltzer waters aren’t 100% natural as claimed, class action says

Polar seltzer class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiffs Stacy Gradney and Sharon Toll have filed a class action lawsuit against Polar Beverages.
• Why: The plaintiffs allege “Polar 100% Natural Seltzers” contain synthetic ingredients.
• Where: The Polar selzer class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

A new nationwide class action lawsuit alleges that Polar Beverages falsely advertises its “Polar 100% Natural Seltzers” as being 100% natural when they contain synthetic ingredients.

Plaintiffs Stacy Gradney and Sharon Toll filed the class action complaint against Polar Beverages on March 2, 2025, in California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

They argue the back of the package reinforces the “natural” representation by claiming the seltzer contains “no sugar, sweeteners, sodium or caffeine.”

“Despite being characterized as a ‘100% Natural,’ however, the Product contains synthetic ingredients rendering the claim false, misleading and in violation of the law,” the Polar seltzer class action lawsuit says.

Polar ‘100% Natural Seltzers’ contain synthetic ingredients, class action claims

Radiocarbon testing on multiple samples of Polar seltzers showed they contain only 87% to 91% biobased carbon, indicating the presence of 9% to 13% synthetic ingredients, the lawsuit states.

Further testing using gas chromatography mass spectrometry identified the presence of ocimene quintoxide, a known synthetic, and terpineols that are often used in synthetic flavorings, the plaintiffs explain.

The plaintiffs argue that a reasonable consumer would understand “100% natural” to mean the product is free from artificial ingredients.

They allege Polar Beverages violated California and New York consumer protection laws by falsely advertising its seltzer as 100% natural.

The plaintiffs are looking to represent anyone in the United States who bought Polar seltzer during the class period. They are suing for violations of consumer protection laws and are seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

This is not the first false advertising lawsuit that Polar Beverages has faced. In 2019, a class action claimed that Polar Seltzer water is actually mostly synthetic, though it is advertised as “100% natural.”

Have you purchased Polar 100% Natural Seltzers? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Michael D. Braun of Kuzyk Law LLP.

The Polar Beverages class action lawsuit is Gradney, et al. v. Polar Beverages, Case No. 4:25-cv-02149, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, Oakland Division.

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