ALBANY, N.Y. (Legal Newsline) — The maker of GoodBelly Probiotic juice is facing a claim the drinks are misleadingly labeled as good for digestive and overall health despite the drink's high sugar content.
Valerie Gates, on behalf of herself, all others similarly situated and the general public, filed a complaint April 27 against NextFoods alleging consumer fraud and other claims.
Gates claims in her class action that NextFood's line of fruit beverages branded as GoodBelly Probiotic Juice Drinks are falsely and misleadingly labeled as promoting digestive health and overall health and wellness. Specifically, Gates claims that the high sugar content and other substances in the defendant's drinks harms "overall health" including increasing inflammation and increasing the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
She further alleges the defendant's claims that the juice promotes overall health and wellness are false because consumption of juice has been scientifically proven to increase risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, liver disease and high blood pressure. Gates alleges the defendant's labeling of the GoodBelly juice violates New York and federal laws.
Gates and the class seeks monetary relief of more than $5 million, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Jack Fitzgerald of Fitzgerald Joseph LLP in San Diego.
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York case number 5:23-CV-00530-FJS-ATB