Coca-Cola Lawsuit Claims Sprite, Fanta Falsely Advertised as Made with ‘100% Natural Flavors’

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A proposed class action lawsuit accuses the Coca-Cola Company of falsely advertising that certain Sprite and Fanta beverages are made with “100% Natural Flavors.”

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According to the 64-page Sprite and Fanta lawsuit, the prominent representations of the products as containing “100% Natural Flavors” are misleading to consumers given that the sodas contain multiple synthetic ingredients—including the artificial flavoring agent citric acid—that are “integral and indispensable” to the drinks’ flavors.

The suit challenges the “100% Natural Flavors” claim featured on the following varieties of Sprite and Fanta beverages:

• Sprite Lemon-Lime;
• Sprite Zero Sugar;
• Sprite Chill Strawberry Kiwi;
• Sprite Tropical Mix;
• Sprite Lymonade;
• Sprite Cherry;
• Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry;
• Fanta Orange;
• Fanta Zero Sugar Orange;
• Fanta Strawberry;
• Fanta Grape;
• Fanta Peach;
• Fanta Pineapple;
• Fanta Pina Colada; and
• Fanta Berry.

The “natural flavoring” representations are deceptive because reasonable consumers would not expect a product bearing such a claim to be significantly, or even predominantly, flavored with artificial ingredients, the case alleges.

Citric acid, an additive used to enhance the tart or sour taste in food products, plays a crucial role in the flavor profiles of the Sprite and Fanta beverages at issue, the complaint contends. Although there is a naturally occurring form of citric acid, the type used in most commercial products is manufactured through a series of industrial and chemical processes and is decidedly unnatural, the filing charges.

In addition to manufactured citric acid, some of the products at issue contain other synthetic flavoring agents such as sodium citrate and potassium citrate, the lawsuit asserts. The beverages marketed as containing zero sugar also incorporate aspartame and acesulfame potassium, two widely used artificial sweeteners, the suit says.

The case argues that if these synthetic additives were removed from the drinks or substantially reduced, the products’ flavors would be materially altered.

Consumers would not have paid as much for the Sprite and Fanta drinks, or bought them at all, had they known the “100% Natural Flavors” claim was false, the filing alleges.

The allegedly misleading representations render the beverages misbranded under federal and state labeling laws, the complaint claims.

The Sprite and Fanta lawsuit looks to represent all consumers in the United States who purchased any of the products listed on this page that were advertised as containing “100% Natural Flavors” or any similar representation, whether on product packaging or in marketing materials.

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