A Coca-Cola natural flavors lawsuit filed in California federal court accuses The Coca-Cola Company of misleading consumers in the marketing of its Sprite and Fanta soft drinks.
The complaint, Victoria Palmer v. The Coca-Cola Company (Case No. 2:25-cv-04777), was filed on May 27, 2025, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. It’s being heard by Judge George H. Wu, with Alicia G. Rosenberg referred to as a magistrate judge. Represented by the Kazerouni Law Group, Palmer seeks to represent a nationwide class of consumers who purchased Sprite and Fanta drinks advertised as having “100% natural flavors".
Allegations Behind the Coca-Cola Natural Flavors Lawsuit
According to the class action complaint, Coca-Cola’s Sprite and Fanta lines contain several synthetic additives, including citric acid, sodium citrate, potassium citrate, aspartame, and acesulfame potassium. The lawsuit claims these substances are essential to the drinks’ flavor profiles, which may render the label inaccurate and misleading.
The Coca-Cola natural flavors lawsuit alleges that the company violated federal and state consumer-protection laws, such as:
- The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA)
- California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA)
- The Unfair Competition Law (UCL)
- The False Advertising Law (FAL)
Palmer asserts that she and other consumers reasonably relied on the alleged 100% natural flavors false advertising when buying the beverages. Had she known the products included synthetic ingredients, she says she either would not have purchased them or would have paid less, according to a June 4 Kazerouni’s Law Group post summarizing the complaint.
The complaint further argues that “sweetness is a fundamental component of how flavor is experienced,” and argues that a reasonable consumer may not expect drinks labeled with “100% Natural Flavors” to also contain artificial sweeteners. These allegations underpin references to a Sprite artificial ingredients lawsuit and a Fanta mislabeling case.
Legal Proceedings and Current Status
Court records show the Coca-Cola natural flavors lawsuit is still in its early stages. On October 8 and 9, 2025, Judge Wu reviewed Coca-Cola’s motions to dismiss and to transfer the case, according to PacerMonitor.
The judge issued tentative rulings and heard oral argument on the motions.
On October 14 and 15, the court granted a joint stipulation setting new deadlines for supplemental memoranda. Coca-Cola must file its additional brief by October 30, 2025, and Palmer’s opposition is due by November 20, 2025. Each side’s memorandum is limited to twelve pages.
As of mid-October, both motions remain under submission, and the court has not yet ruled on whether the case will proceed, be dismissed, or be transferred. No settlement has been reached.
What the Plaintiff Claims
Palmer and her legal team argue that Coca-Cola’s labeling misleads consumers into believing that Sprite and Fanta contain only ingredients derived from natural sources, when in fact the sodas allegedly depend heavily on laboratory-produced additives.
The complaint cites the case as an example of how the claims may amount to Coca-Cola’s deceptive marketing. It effectively accuses the company of “greenwashing”—using appealing but inaccurate environmental or purity-related language to make a product seem cleaner or more natural than it is, as reported by the media platform The Cool Down.
Palmer seeks actual damages, restitution, disgorgement of profits, and prospective injunctive relief that would prohibit Coca-Cola from continuing to label these beverages with “100% Natural Flavors.” She also demands a jury trial on behalf of all affected consumers.
Who May Be Eligible to Join the Sprite Fanta Class Action
If the court certifies the class, eligibility could include any U.S. consumer who purchased Sprite or Fanta drinks marketed as having “100% Natural Flavors.” The complaint lists several varieties potentially included in the Sprite Fanta class action, such as:
- Sprite Lemon-Lime
- Sprite Zero Sugar
- Sprite Tropical Mix
- Sprite Cherry
- Sprite Winter Spiced Cranberry
- Fanta Orange
- Fanta Strawberry
- Fanta Grape
- Fanta Peach
- Fanta Pineapple
- Fanta Piña Colada
At present, no claim form or settlement website is currently available while the case remains pending.
Coca-Cola has encountered labeling scrutiny before. In 2024, the company issued a recall of Minute Maid Zero Sugar Lemonade because its packaging allegedly misidentified ingredients, though that recall was unrelated to Sprite or Fanta.
Possible Outcomes and Consumer Impact
If plaintiffs ultimately prevail or a settlement is reached, consumers covered by the Sprite lawsuit and the Fanta lawsuit may be eligible for monetary relief through refunds or credits. The court could also require Coca-Cola to revise its labeling and advertising practices.
If Coca-Cola’s motion to dismiss succeeds, parts of the lawsuit might be eliminated, or the case could be moved to another federal district. Regardless, observers expect continued motion practice and docket activity through late 2025.
The case has drawn widespread coverage among consumer-protection outlets.
Those who purchased Sprite or Fanta drinks labeled “100% Natural Flavors” can keep an eye on official court updates or this site for future claim opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
It’s a federal class action alleging that Coca-Cola falsely marketed Sprite and Fanta as made with “100% Natural Flavors,” even though they contain synthetic additives such as citric acid and aspartame.
Included are various Sprite and Fanta beverages marketed as “100% Natural Flavors,” including multiple fruit and zero-sugar varieties.
No. The case remains active, and the court has not yet ruled on Coca-Cola’s motions to dismiss or transfer.
If the court certifies the class, eligible consumers may later file claims or receive notice through a settlement website. For now, they can follow updates through federal court records or consumer-rights news outlets.
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