Amid lawsuit, LaCroix defends its ‘natural’ labeling
The company is being sued over its sparkling water, with plaintiffs asserting the drink contains ingredients found in some insecticides. The suit raises larger issues about truth in packaging.
It comes down to parsing the word “natural.”
A class-action suit targets LaCroix and its parent company Natural Beverage Corp., claiming the corporation’s drinks have tested positive for certain compounds considered synthetic by the Food and Drug Administration.
Now the company must defend its products and its reputation.
The suit, filed by law firm Beaumont Costales, made some headlines. USA Today reported:
“LaCroix in fact contains ingredients that have been identified by the Food and Drug Administration as synthetic,” the lawsuit obtained by CBS states. “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 also states LaCroix makers are aware of the alleged unnatural ingredients.
National Beverage Corp. denies the allegations, saying all essences in LaCroix sparkling waters are all 100 percent natural.
The company denies the allegations, writing in a press release:
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