A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Trader Joe's, alleging that the retailer deceptively advertised its French Roast Low Acid whole bean coffee. The lawsuit, filed in California on Thursday, claims the product contained half the caffeine of a regular blend but was not labeled as such, leading consumers to believe it was fully caffeinated.
Four plaintiffs allege that Trader Joe's failed to disclose the reduced caffeine content, which is common practice for products like 'decaf' or 'half-caff' coffee. The suit states that consumers rely on caffeine for energy and that the product's labeling misled them into purchasing it under false pretenses. The plaintiffs are seeking damages and for Trader Joe's to stop selling the product through misleading marketing.
Trader Joe's has not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. The suit claims that regular coffee drinkers would not have purchased the product if they knew it contained less caffeine and that they would have paid less for a 'half-caff' product if it had been properly labeled.