Simply Orange PFAS Lawsuit
A new consumer class action lawsuit was recently filed against Coca-Cola Company alleging that the company falsely markets its “Simply Tropical Juice as all-natural while failing to disclose that they contain high levels of PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances). PFAS are harmful chemicals that have been linked to various health problems.
About PFAS
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals that are used in a wide variety of products because of their ability to resist deterioration from water, grease, oil, and other substances. PFAS are frequently called “forever chemicals” because the same properties that make them resistant to deterioration from water and oil also make them resistant to being broken down once released into the environment or the human body.
PFAS tend to build up and accumulate over time inside the body where they can cause major internal problems. PFAS exposure can lead to increased risk of many different types of cancer including. PFAS have also been linked to liver damage, fertility issues, hormone problems, and other health issues.
Mass Torts Involving PFAS
PFAS are already at the center of a major mass tort in the U.S. The AFFF firefighting foam class action lawsuit involves claims by thousands of firefighters who were occupationally exposed to PFAS which are in AFFF foam, a product used by firefighters and the military to extinguish accelerant-based fires. These lawsuits allege that long term exposure to PFAS in these products caused the plaintiffs to develop cancer, liver damage, and other problems.
The AFFF class action lawsuit also includes claims by hundreds of local municipalities claiming that their drinking water systems have been contaminated by PFAS. These cases claim that PFAS from firefighting foam used during training exercises has seeped into groundwater aquifers making the public water system unsafe.
PFAS has also generated a number of consumer class action lawsuits after they have been detected in high levels in various products such as cosmetics and food storage containers.
Simply Orange Juice Lawsuit
In December 2022, a new consumer class action lawsuit was filed against Coca-Cola and its subsidiary The Simply Orange Juice Company in the Southern District of New York. The named plaintiff in the Simply Orange class action lawsuit is New York resident Joseph Lurenz, who is filing the case on behalf of all similarly situated parties. In this case, that includes everyone who bought Simply Tropical Juice made by The Simply Orange Juice Company. So that would include most people reading this.
The lawsuit claims that Simply Tropical and Simply Orange is labeled and marketed as “All Natural” and claims that is “made simply” with “all-natural ingredients.” However, the lawsuit claims that the plaintiff has performed lab testing on Simply Tropical which confirms that the juice actually contains PFAS, synthetic chemicals which are obviously not natural. The Complaint goes on to recite the known health risks of PFAS:
PFAS are a group of synthetic, man-made, chemicals known to be harmful to both humans and the environment. Because PFAS persist and accumulate over time, they are harmful even at very low levels. Indeed, “PFAS have been shown to have a number of toxicological effects in laboratory studies and have been associated with thyroid disorders, immunotoxicity effects, and various cancers in epidemiology studies.
In fact, scientists are studying—and are extremely concerned about—how PFAS affect human health. Consequently, the CDC outlined “a host of health effects associated with PFAS exposure, including cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, and increased risk of asthma and thyroid disease.
The crux of the lawsuit is that the presence of PFAS is completely inconsistent with the marketing of Simply Tropical as an all natural juice product with natural ingredients. The Complaint asserts that this is false and misleading marketing in violation of various consumer protection laws
The Complaint just makes a general allegation that third-party laboratory testing has shown “material levels” of PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) and PFOS (perfluorooctanesulfonic acid) contained in Simply Tropical. It does not specifically state the levels of PFAS found in the juice, but claims that they were found in excess of the EPA recommended levels for drinking water.
The two types of PFAS found in the Simply Tropical juice (PFOA and PFOS) are actually the most well-understood types with the most extensive body of scientific research on their health impact. Studies have shown that these PFAS can have adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, growth and development, the immune system and more. The class action Complaint emphasizes this point when it claims that the Simply Tropical juice:
exposes hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting consumers, many of whom are children, to toxic synthetic chemicals at levels far beyond what the EPA deems safe, in direct contradiction to their uniform representations.
Can I File My Own Simply Orange Lawsuit in the Class Action?
Many people want to know if they can file their own Simply Orange lawsuit. Anyone harmed can always file a lawsuit. But proving that PFAS or anything other ingredient in Simply Tropical Juice or Simply Orange suit is the cause of cancer or any other injury would be a challenge. Our lawyers are unaware of any law firm taking on those cases we are not.