Lawsuit Investigation: Does Florida’s Natural Orange Juice Contain Toxic PFAS Chemicals?
Last Updated on September 6, 2023
Investigation Complete
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org have finished their investigation into this matter.
Check back for any potential updates and take a look at our open investigations here. The information on this page is for reference only.
At A Glance
- This Alert Affects
- Anyone who purchased Florida’s Natural Orange Juice with No Pulp
- What’s Going On?
- Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are investigating whether a class action lawsuit can be filed against Florida’s Natural over allegations that its original no pulp orange juice contains toxic chemicals known as PFAS despite being advertised as “natural.”
- What Are PFAS?
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals linked to cancer, fertility problems, thyroid disease and more.
- How Could a Class Action Lawsuit Help?
- If filed and successful, a lawsuit could allow consumers the chance to get back some of the money spent on the orange juice. It could also force the company to remove any PFAS chemicals found in the product or change its advertising.
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org would like to speak with anyone who has purchased Florida’s Natural Orange Juice with No Pulp.
They have reason to suspect the “natural” orange juice may contain harmful chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The attorneys are now investigating whether a class action lawsuit could be filed against the company over how it advertised the orange juice to consumers, but first, they need to speak with people who purchased Florida’s Natural Orange Juice with No Pulp.
What Are PFAS and Could They Be in Orange Juice?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of human-made chemicals that have been used since at least the 1950s to make industrial and consumer products resistant to heat, oil, grease and water.
Often referred to as “forever chemicals,” most PFAS do not break down easily in the environment and can accumulate in soil, wildlife and the human body with repeated exposure over time. Once PFAS enter the body through ingestion, inhalation or absorption, they can stay in the blood for years. In fact, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reports that most people in the United States have one or more specific PFAS in their blood.
PFAS can be found in a wide variety of everyday products, from nonstick cookware and water-resistant fabrics to cleaning products and eye makeup. Notably, high levels of PFAS have been found in certain types of food packaging used at fast-food restaurants and supermarkets.
What Are the Health Risks Associated with PFAS Chemicals?
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, exposure to certain levels of PFAS has been associated with the following health effects:
- Prostate, kidney and testicular cancer
- Fertility problems
- Developmental delays in children
- Increased cholesterol
- Suppressed immune function
Other health effects generally linked to PFAS include liver damage, increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease.
In light of these concerns, attorneys believe that Florida’s Natural has misled consumers by representing its orange juice as “natural.”
How Could a Class Action Lawsuit Help?
If filed and successful, a class action lawsuit could provide customers some reimbursement for the orange juice, especially since attorneys believe that consumers would not have paid as much for the product, or would not have bought it in the first place, had they known the juice could potentially contain undisclosed PFAS chemicals.
A class action lawsuit could also require Florida’s Natural to discontinue using any PFAS in its product or even force a recall. Finally, a successful case could force the company to change how it markets and advertises the juice.
It’s also worth noting that Florida’s Natural is not the first company under scrutiny for potentially making its orange juice with forever chemicals. A proposed class action filed in December 2022 alleges the makers of Simply Tropical juice have “tireless[ly]” marketed their product as “natural,” even though it is secretly made with PFAS.
The branding of Florida’s Natural orange juice was also called into question in 2018, with a proposed class action claiming that the products could not be “natural” because they contain glyphosate, a synthetic biocide frequently used to kill weeds. Although dismissed, the case argued that the company intentionally mislabeled its products as “natural” to deceive consumers and increase profits.
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