CHICAGO (Legal Newsline) — Coca-Cola is facing a suit alleging its Minute Maid juice label fails to disclose it contains a chemically modified form of vitamin C.
Natasha Hawkins, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, filed a complaint Feb. 5 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against The Coca-Cola Company alleging violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act and other claims.
Hawkins, according to her complaint, purchased Minute Maid Apple Juice in Cook County between 2021 and 2023. She claims Coca-Cola fails to disclose that the product contains the chemical preservative of ascorbic acid, a chemically modified form of vitamin C.
Hawkins further claims the juice's label is misleading because it states "with vitamin C" and on the ingredient list places "ascorbic acid" in subtle and insufficient way in an attempt to comply with the requirements of disclosing a chemical preservative. She alleges consumers expect the product to not contain preservatives due to the front labeling and the defendant uses the false and misleading representations to sell the product at a premium price.
Hawkins and the class seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC in Great Neck, New York.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division case number 1:23-CV-00700