MIAMI (Legal Newsline) - Lozenges at Publix grocery stores claim to be lemon-flavored but fail to have the right ingredients, a class action lawsuit alleges.
Heriberto Valiente filed suit Sept. 14 against Publix Super Markets in Miami federal court over honey-lemon cough drops sold under its brand. The suit complains the front of the package shows a lemon cut in half.
And customers will seek out and purchase lemon products because of their nutritional benefits, it adds.
"Instead of lemon ingredients, it contains 'natural and artificial flavors,'" the suit says. "According to flavor expert Bob Holmes, if the product provided 'all the flavor depth' and benefits of lemons, the ingredients would include lemon oil, lemon extract or lemon juice, instead of 'natural and artificial flavors.'"
The suit says customers would not have purchased the product or would not have paid as much if they had not been misled into thinking the cough drops would have more lemon ingredients.
Will Wright of West Palm Beach and Spencer Sheehan of New York are representing Valiente.