A courtroom challenge over what counts as a preservative has ended with a multimillion-dollar payout. ZOA Energy $3M class action settlement will distribute funds to consumers after the popular energy drink brand agreed to resolve allegations that its marketing misled buyers.
The lawsuit accused ZOA Energy of deceptive labeling, claiming cans advertised “0 preservatives” despite containing ingredients plaintiffs said function as preservatives.
What Sparked the Lawsuit
At the heart of the case were ZOA Energy’s product labels, which stated the drinks contained “0 preservatives.” The lawsuit argued that this claim was misleading because the beverages include citric acid and ascorbic acid, compounds commonly used to preserve freshness.
Ascorbic acid is better known as vitamin C, while citric acid naturally occurs in foods such as citrus fruits. Both substances are widely regarded as safe for consumption, a point acknowledged in the case filings.
ZOA Energy, co-founded by actor and entrepreneur Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, sells a range of flavors including Tropical Punch, Frosted Grape and Mango Splash.
