(WTXL) - The parent company of LaCroix is facing a class action lawsuit that claims the drinks aren't "all-natural" but instead contains artificial ingredients, to include a chemical used in cockroach insecticide.
Beaumont Costales announced that they have filed a class action lawsuit in Illinois' Cook County against LaCroix’s parent company National Beverage Corporation.
They say the lawsuit is being filed on behalf of everyone who was "injured by the popular sparkling water brand’s false claims to be 'all natural' and '100% natural.'"
The suit claims that the company intentionally misled customers to believe the product was all natural when in reality, it allegedly 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," the suit said.
According to Beaumont Costales, the suit seeks to stop LaCroix from "falsely labeling and promoting its products as natural," and also seeks damages for those who bought the beverage under the "inaccurate depiction."
The National Beverage Corporation has denied all allegations, saying that the lawsuit was filed "without basis in fact or law regarding the natural composition of its LaCroix sparkling waters."
The company called the lawsuit “defamatory” and said it will seek damages for harm caused to the company because of the suit.
"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," National Beverage wrote in a press release. "All essences contained in LaCroix are certified by our suppliers to be 100% natural."
According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, linalool is a naturally occurring chemical found in spices and has "many commercial applications."
