LaCroix’s parent company is currently facing a lawsuit claiming that the sparkling water isn’t “all natural” as advertised. The suit, filed on behalf of customer Lenora Rice, alleges that the cockroach insecticide, linalool, is used as an ingredient.
“LaCroix in fact contains ingredients that have been identified by the Food and Drug Administration as synthetic,” the lawsuit states, according to CBS News. “These chemicals include limonene, which can cause kidney toxicity and tumors; linalool propionate, which is used to treat cancer; and linalool, which is used in cockroach insecticide.”
The lawsuit claims that the company is completely aware of the unnatural ingredients, however they are denying these allegations.
National Beverage Corp released the following statement earlier this week:
National Beverage Corp. FIZZ, -2.38% categorically denies all allegations in a lawsuit filed today without basis in fact or law regarding the natural composition of its LaCroix sparkling waters. Natural flavors in LaCroix are derived from the natural essence oils from the named fruit used in each of the flavors. There are no sugars or artificial ingredients contained in, nor added to, those extracted flavors.
All essences contained in LaCroix are certified by our suppliers to be 100% natural.
The lawsuit provides no support for its false statements about LaCroix’s ingredients. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers “natural” on a food label to be truthful and non-misleading when “nothing artificial or synthetic (including all color additives regardless of source) has been included in, or has been added.” All LaCroix product labels include an ingredient statement indicating each product contains carbonated water and natural flavors. National Beverage stands by that ingredient statement and the fact that all the flavor essences in LaCroix are natural.
The lawsuit and the companion release that was published this afternoon were false, defamatory and intended to intentionally damage National Beverage and its shareholders. National Beverage will vigorously seek actual and punitive damages among other remedies from everyone involved in the publication of these defamatory falsehoods.
Roommates, we are just here to keep you in the know! We’ll keep you posted as more details on the lawsuit are released.
