LaCroix has been accused in a lawsuit of falsely claiming it uses all natural ingredients in its sparkling water beverages.
According to the lawsuit, LaCroix puts non-natural flavorings and synthetic compounds in their beverages to make them smell and taste a certain way. One of the ingredients allegedly has been linked to kidney tumors and another is used as a cockroach insecticide. The lawsuit says that the company is aware of the alleged unnatural ingredients, however, nutritional scientist Robert Clemens argues that the compounds are safe.
“These compounds are found in nature, mostly in fruit such as oranges, limes, strawberries, pineapples, bananas….so we consume these compounds every day if we eat any kind of fruit,” he said.
Clemens added that consumers may be confused with the meaning of ‘natural.’ “They believe ‘natural’ means safer, natural means more wholesome.”
LaCroix’s parent company, National Beverage Corp., has denied all of the allegations.
“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,” the company said.
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