Suit Claims Misleading Antioxidant Claims by 7UP Maker
An advocacy group claims in a lawsuit that the maker of 7Up is making misleading antioxidant claims about some of its soft drinks.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest filed the suit on behalf of a consumer who believed antioxidants came from fruit in 7Up Cherry Antioxidant, Mixed Berry Antioxidant, and Pomegranate Antioxidant, report Reuters, the Associated Press and a press release. In reality, the suit says, the antioxidant is in the form of added vitamin E.
“Despite the pictures of cherries, blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, and pomegranates on various 7UP labels,” the press release says, “the drinks contain no fruit or juice of any kind.”
The federal lawsuit (PDF), filed against the Dr Pepper Snapple Group in the Central District of California, alleges violations of California consumer and business fraud laws, as well as unjust enrichment.
Dr Pepper issued a statement saying the products meet labeling requirements by the Food and Drug Administration. The company is replacing the products in February with a new formulation that won’t contain antioxidants.
