Two Massachusetts residents are suing Coca-Cola in federal court, alleging that the beverage company is deceiving customers into thinking that their signature soft drink is “natural and healthy.”Plaintiffs Michelle Marino, of Chelmsford, and Damiano DiPaola, of Boston, filed the lawsuit on Friday, seeking unspecified damages and asking the company to stop portraying Coca-Cola products as “natural.”The company’s soda sales are “fueled by false and deceptive representations that Coca-Cola is not only a healthy product, but one free of artificial flavoring and chemical preservatives,” the lawsuit states. “All containers of Coca-Cola sold in the United States are misbranded and illegal.”The lawsuit argues that in the face of dropping sales, Coca-Cola “adopted a global campaign of disinformation, false advertising, false labeling and misbranding” to appeal to consumers seeking natural ingredients in their soft drinks.“Under both federal and Massachusetts law it is illegal to manufacture, deliver orsell misbranded food,” the lawsuit states.Marino says in the lawsuit that she used to buy Coca-Cola “as an occasional treat for her three young daughters,” before learning that drink contains phosphoric acid.DiPaola also used to buy the soda.“He purchased the product for himself and drank it regularly, believing it to be a natural and healthy beverage,” the lawsuit states. “However, he stopped purchasing and drinking Coca-Cola when he learned that it contains artificial flavorings.”Similar lawsuits against Coca-Cola over "healthy and natural branding" have popped up around the country.A Coca-Cola spokeswoman told Law360 in response to previous lawsuits that the claims are baseless.“Our beverages are properly labeled in accordance with all applicable government regulations," the spokeswoman said. "These meritless lawsuits are a play by class action lawyers to profit under the pretense of protecting people. No one has been misled."Phosphoric acid is used to acidify colas and give them their tangy taste. Boston blog Universal Hub first reported the lawsuit.

Two Massachusetts residents are suing Coca-Cola in federal court, alleging that the beverage company is deceiving customers into thinking that their signature soft drink is “natural and healthy.”

Plaintiffs Michelle Marino, of Chelmsford, and Damiano DiPaola, of Boston, filed the lawsuit on Friday, seeking unspecified damages and asking the company to stop portraying Coca-Cola products as “natural.”


The company’s soda sales are “fueled by false and deceptive representations that Coca-Cola is not only a healthy product, but one free of artificial flavoring and chemical preservatives,” the lawsuit states. “All containers of Coca-Cola sold in the United States are misbranded and illegal.”

The lawsuit argues that in the face of dropping sales, Coca-Cola “adopted a global campaign of disinformation, false advertising, false labeling and misbranding” to appeal to consumers seeking natural ingredients in their soft drinks.

“Under both federal and Massachusetts law it is illegal to manufacture, deliver or

sell misbranded food,” the lawsuit states.

Marino says in the lawsuit that she used to buy Coca-Cola “as an occasional treat for her three young daughters,” before learning that drink contains phosphoric acid.

DiPaola also used to buy the soda.

“He purchased the product for himself and drank it regularly, believing it to be a natural and healthy beverage,” the lawsuit states. “However, he stopped purchasing and drinking Coca-Cola when he learned that it contains artificial flavorings.”

Similar lawsuits against Coca-Cola over "healthy and natural branding" have popped up around the country.

A Coca-Cola spokeswoman told Law360 in response to previous lawsuits that the claims are baseless.

“Our beverages are properly labeled in accordance with all applicable government regulations," the spokeswoman said. "These meritless lawsuits are a play by class action lawyers to profit under the pretense of protecting people. No one has been misled."

Phosphoric acid is used to acidify colas and give them their tangy taste. Boston blog Universal Hub first reported the lawsuit.