Coca-Cola Sued Over “100% Natural Flavors” Claim In Sprite And Fanta

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit alleges Coca-Cola falsely labels its Sprite and Fanta sodas as having “100% Natural Flavors,” when they allegedly contain synthetic ingredients, including industrially manufactured citric acid.

Consumers Affected: U.S. consumers who purchased Coca-Cola products claiming to be made from "100% Natural Flavors."

Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Coca-Cola is the latest big-name brand to face legal backlash over allegedly misleading consumers about what’s in their drinks. A class action lawsuit filed in California accuses the beverage giant of falsely labeling and marketing popular sodas, like Sprite and Fanta, as having “100% Natural Flavors,” when they actually contain synthetic ingredients, including industrially manufactured citric acid.

The lawsuit argues that the claim of “natural” flavoring is not just inaccurate—it’s illegal, unfair, and deceptive. Under federal and state laws, including the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and California’s Sherman Law, food and beverage labeling must not mislead buyers about a product’s ingredients or quality. 

But according to the complaint, Coca-Cola is doing exactly that—gaining a competitive edge by advertising its sodas as natural when key flavoring ingredients are lab-made.

Consumers Say They Were Deceived by Packaging

The lawsuit was filed by Victoria Palmer, a California resident who says she purchased ten-packs of Sprite and Fanta on Amazon after seeing the drinks advertised as having “100% Natural Flavors.” The packaging, product descriptions, and marketing images all repeated the natural claim multiple times, influencing her decision to buy the products.

Palmer says she believed the drinks were healthier and more premium than sodas with artificial flavors. But after learning that the flavoring included synthetic citric acid—produced not from citrus fruits, but from fermented mold—she felt deceived. The lawsuit claims she would not have made the purchases, or would have paid less, had the truth been clearly disclosed.

Lawsuit Details Alleged Presence of Synthetic Citric Acid

At the center of the lawsuit is the use of manufactured citric acid, or MCA—a compound that’s chemically synthesized using genetically altered mold. While natural citric acid exists in fruits like lemons and limes, the lawsuit says that Coca-Cola’s products use this artificial version to produce the tangy, citrus taste.

The complaint also points out that the misleading label appears across many Sprite and Fanta varieties, including zero-sugar options and fruit-flavored spinoffs. Consumers across the country, the lawsuit alleges, are paying premium prices for drinks they believe are free of synthetic ingredients when that’s not the case.

Other Beverage Brands Face Legal Challenges Over "Natural" Claims

Coca-Cola isn’t alone in facing scrutiny over “natural” claims. Capri Sun, owned by Kraft Heinz, was recently hit with a lawsuit for advertising its juice pouches as containing “All Natural Ingredients” despite also including synthetic citric acid. 

Coca-Cola’s own Minute Maid Fruit Punch is also under legal fire for claiming “No Preservatives Added,” even though the drink contains preservatives. 

Even energy drink maker Oca and ice cream brand Handel’s have been called out in court for allegedly misleading natural-labeling practices.

In her lawsuit against Coca-Cola, Palmer wants to represent anyone in the US who bought a Coca-Cola product that claimed to be made from “100% Natural Flavors.” She is suing for violations for California trade and advertising laws, unjust enrichment, negligent misrepresentation, and more, and is seeking damages, injunctive relief, fees, costs, and interest.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Palmer v. The Coca-Cola Company
• Case Number: 2:25-cv-04777
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Abbas Kazerounian, Jason A. Ibey, and Gil Melili (Kazerouni Law Group, APC)

Do you drink Sprite or Fanta? What are your thoughts on their '100% Natural Flavors' claim? Share your opinion below.