Minute Maid Fruit Punch Lawsuit: Does it Contain Preservatives?

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit has been filed against Coca-Cola, alleging that the company's Minute Maid Fruit Punch misleadingly claims to be preservative-free.

Consumers Affected: Individuals who purchased Minute Maid Fruit Punch under the belief that it was preservative-free.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Coca-Cola’s promise of “No Preservatives Added” in its Minute Maid Fruit Punch isn’t quite as refreshing as it sounds. 

That’s according to two consumers from New York, who have filed a class action lawsuit against the beverage giant claiming that the label misleads health-conscious customers into thinking they’re sipping on a preservative-free drink. 

In fact, there’s a preservative ingredient lurking inside the punch, the lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiffs Juan Delvalle and Kymberlea Durant filed the class action complaint against Coca-Cola Inc. on Aug. 14 in a New York federal court, alleging the product’s labeling is misleading and violates New York General Business Law.

Lawsuit Claims Minute Maid Fruit Punch Contains Hidden Preservatives

The duo alleges the Minute Maid product contains citric acid—a substance that, while commonly found in fruit, also happens to be a well-known preservative. The lawsuit alleges that the citric acid used in this case is synthetic, and is deemed a preservative by the Food & Drug Administration. 

Despite this, Minute Maid’s packaging boldly declares “No Preservatives Added,” leaving consumers in the dark about what’s really in the bottle, the lawsuit states.

According to Delvalle and Durant, this isn’t just a labeling quirk. 

It’s part of a broader strategy by Coca-Cola to cash in on the growing demand for preservative-free foods. The lawsuit argues that by making their Fruit Punch seem “cleaner” than it is, the company has been able to charge a premium for what consumers believe is a healthier choice.

“Defendant markets its Products in a systematically misleading manner by misrepresenting that the Products do not contain preservatives,” the lawsuit states.

Deceptive Labeling Prevents Consumers From Making Informed Choices

The plaintiffs say that if they’d known that the Minute Maid Fruit Punch contained preservatives, they either wouldn’t have bought it, or wouldn’t have paid as much for it. 

As a result, they’re looking to represent a nationwide class of consumers who’ve been buying Minute Maid under the same assumptions as them.

They’re seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs an a jury trial. 

Meanwhile, Pirate’s Booty has been hit with a similar class action lawsuit accusing the popular snack brand of misleading consumers about its ingredients, by stating the product contains “No Artificial Colors or Preservatives,” when it actually contains citric acid.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Delvalle et al. v. The Coca-Cola Company
• Case Number: 1:24-cv-06163-JLR
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Alec Leslie and Julian C. Diamond (Bursor & Fisher P.A.) 
• Nick Suciu, Erin J. Ruben and J. Hunter Bryson (Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman PLLC)

Have you bought Minute Maid Fruit Punch under the belief it was preservative-free? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!