Class Action Lawsuit Claims Bai’s Beverages Contain ‘Undisclosed Artificial Flavors’

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Bai Brands, LLC finds itself as the defendant in a proposed class action in which the plaintiff claims the company’s fruit-flavored beverages are falsely and misleadingly labeled as containing only natural ingredients. According to the 27-page case, Bai’s products contain undisclosed artificial flavors in violation of California and federal consumer protection laws.

The plaintiff charges Bai’s labeling and advertising of its antioxidant infusion drinks is deliberately aimed to give consumers the false impression that the products are made of only natural fruits and fruit juices. The names of the products themselves, such as “Malawi Mango,” “Sumatra Dragonfruit,” and “Bolivia Black Cherry,” the lawsuit argues, imply to consumers that the beverages are naturally flavored. Despite the products’ labeling, the drinks contain a synthetic flavoring compound called “malic acid,” which the lawsuit says “makes food products taste like fresh fruit.”

“This ‘malic acid’ is not naturally-occurring but is in fact manufactured in petrochemical plants from benzene or butane—components of gasoline and lighter fluid, respectively—through a series of chemical reactions, some of which involve highly toxic chemical precursors or byproducts,” the complaint states.

The specific products the plaintiff claims are deceptively labeled by Bai include: 

The complaint can be read below.