WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — PepsiCo is facing a class alleging its Izze sparkling juice products are deceptively labeled as preservative-free.
Tiffany Taylor, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint Dec. 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against PepsiCo Inc. and PAI Partners Inc., alleging violation of New York Business Law and other claims.
Taylor alleges in her class action that PepsiCo misrepresents that its Izze sparkling juice products do not contain preservatives. Specifically, Taylor claims Izze contains citric acid and ascorbic acid which are "well known and well documented preservatives."
She claims that PepsiCo has fraudulently induced consumers into purchasing the products by failing to include the "true nature and presence" of preservatives in Izze juice products in its advertising, packaging and labeling. Taylor also claims PepsiCo targeted "health-conscious" consumers who seek products without preservatives and "prominently displays" on Izze's front label that the product contains "no preservatives."
She alleges that PepsiCo's deceptive practices violate state consumer protection statutes and caused consumers economic injury.
Taylor and the class seek monetary relief of more than $5 million, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Adrian Gucovschi of Gucovschi Rozenshteyn PLLC in New York and Frederick Klorczyk, III of Bursor & Fisher PA in New York.
U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York case number 7:22-CV-10219