Consumer Activists Sue Snapple Over the Use of High Fructose Corn Syrup

10/07/07 Add Snapple to the growing list of beverages being targeted by consumer activists over the use of High Fructose Corn Syrup.

A lawsuit filed this week in federal court seeks class action status for Garden State residents who drank Snapple over the past six years. The residents want to force Cadbury Schweppes to change its labeling and make millions of dollars in refunds to consumers.

The reason? Snapple, which claims to be made from "The Best Stuff on Earth" uses high-fructose corn syrup. A company spokesman said all Snapple products meet legal packaging requirements, and says the company will fight the lawsuit.

Snapple, which is being considered as an acquisition target for the Coca-Cola Co., is only the most recent Cadbury product to get into hot water over natural claims. Late last year, the re-launched 7-Up was also named in a lawsuit filed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest over claims that the product had become "All-Natural."

There's an argument in both directions. Companies like Whole Foods, which only allow natural and organic products, do allow the use of high-fructose corn syrup in their stores. It can be derived naturally, or even organically.