A class-action lawsuit filed in Illinois earlier this week claims the popular sparkling water brand LaCroix is not as healthy and 'all-natural' as the packaging claims with plaintiffs claiming that one of the ingredients is also used in cockroach insecticide.
Law firm Beaumont Costales filed the lawsuit against National Beverage Corp., the company that makes LaCroix, claiming that LaCroix's natural ingredients claim is false.
According to the filing, "The plaintiff Rice, desiring a healthy, natural beverage, was led to purchase LaCroix sparkling water because of the claims made on its packaging, advertising and web site to be “innocent,” “naturally essenced,” “all natural,” and “always 100% natural.” However, LaCroix in fact contains ingredients that have been identified by the Food and Drug Administration as synthetic. 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.
"As the lawsuit states, LaCroix and National Beverage are aware of the synthetic chemicals contained in LaCroix sparkling water, and yet they intentionally misled consumers into believing LaCroix all-natural in order to drive sales of the product.
The lawsuit seeks to stop LaCroix from falsely labeling and promoting its products as natural and to award damages to those individuals who purchased LaCroix under this inaccurate depiction."
In a statement, National Beverages Corp. denied the lawsuit's allegations.
"National Beverage Corp. 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."
According to one report published in Popular Science, the plaintiff's concerns over the ingredients seem to be overblown. The three ingredients listed in the lawsuit, limonene, linalool, and linalool propionate are not considered synthetic, and fall within the GRAS (generally recognized as safe) category of chemicals. One example, linalool, is a natural flavoring found in dozens of flowers, plants and herbs, experts say.
If you'd like to join the lawsuit, you can contact Beaumont Costales at 773-831-8000.
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