SAN FRANCISCO (Legal Newsline) — Coca-Cola is facing a consumer class action lawsuit alleging it falsely labels its Minute Maid Juice Boxes as "good for you."
Gary Reynolds, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated and the general public, filed a complaint March 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California against The Coca-Cola Company alleging violation of California's False Advertising Law and other claims.
Reynolds alleges in his class action that Coca-Cola "exploits and deceptively perpetuates" that juice is healthy by labeling its Minute Maid juice boxes as "good for you" and "part of a healthy, balanced diet." Reynolds claims that scientific evidence demonstrates that fruit juice increases the risk for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, liver disease and other chronic health issues.
He further claims Coca-Cola has a history of "pouring money into misinformation campaigns" that shed doubt on scientific evidence on the health risk of sugar as well as funded research designed to persuade people to focus on exercise and not calorie intake. Reynolds alleges that Coca-Cola falsely leads consumers to believe that since there is no added sugar the juice boxes are good for you, but the "free sugar in the juice boxes has the identical physiological effect" as added sugar. He alleges the juice box labeling violates California law.
Reynolds and the class seek monetary relief, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Jack Fitzgerald, Paul Joseph, Melanie Persinger, Trevor Flynn and Caroline Emhardt of Fitzgerald Joseph LLP in San Diego.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California case number 3:23-CV-01446-TSH