--- title: Judge Sends Coca-Cola to Mediation Over “No Sugar Added” Label description: On Monday, July 10, 2017, U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer ordered Coca-Cola subsidiary, Odwalla Inc., and a class of consumers to resolve disputes over the beverage giant’s “no sugar added” fruit drink label in private mediation. image: https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/blog-files/Images/Royalty%20Free%20/coca-cola-462776_1920.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://counselfinancial.com/litigation-counsellor/judge-sends-coca-cola-to-mediation-over-no-sugar-added-label#main-content) [![Brandmark](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/2024%20Website/Brand%20Logos/Brandmark.svg "Brandmark")](https://counselfinancial.com/) [![Counsel Financial](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/2024%20Website/Brand%20Logos/Text-Logo.svg "Counsel Financial")](https://counselfinancial.com/) - [Law Firms](https://counselfinancial.com/law-firms) - [Capital Providers](https://counselfinancial.com/captial-providers) - About Us Show submenu for About Us ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/icons/arrow-down.svg) - [Loan Process](https://counselfinancial.com/about/loan-process) - [Our Team](https://counselfinancial.com/about/our-team) - [Lending Philosophy](https://counselfinancial.com/about/lending-philosophy) - [Contact](https://counselfinancial.com/contact) - Resources Show submenu for Resources ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/icons/arrow-down.svg) - [Blog](https://counselfinancial.com/blog) - [Case Studies](https://counselfinancial.com/case-studies) - [Law Firms](https://counselfinancial.com/law-firms) - [Capital Providers](https://counselfinancial.com/captial-providers) - About Us Show submenu for About Us ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/icons/arrow-down.svg) - [Loan Process](https://counselfinancial.com/about/loan-process) - [Our Team](https://counselfinancial.com/about/our-team) - [Lending Philosophy](https://counselfinancial.com/about/lending-philosophy) - [Contact](https://counselfinancial.com/contact) - Resources Show submenu for Resources ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/icons/arrow-down.svg) - [Blog](https://counselfinancial.com/blog) - [Case Studies](https://counselfinancial.com/case-studies) [Request a Meeting ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/icons/button-arrow-blue.svg)](https://counselfinancial.com/request-a-meeting) [Contact ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/icons/button-arrow-blue.svg)](https://counselfinancial.com/contact) [Legal News](https://counselfinancial.com/litigation-counsellor/topic/legal-news), [Blog](https://counselfinancial.com/litigation-counsellor/topic/blog), [Class Action](https://counselfinancial.com/litigation-counsellor/topic/class-action) # Judge Sends Coca-Cola to Mediation Over “No Sugar Added” Label By: Elizabeth DiNardo, Esq. | Associate Counsel July 13, 2017 ![coca-cola-462776_1920.jpg](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/blog-files/Images/Royalty%20Free%20/coca-cola-462776_1920.jpg) ![coca-cola-462776_1920.jpg](https://counselfinancial.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-files/Images/Royalty%20Free%20/coca-cola-462776_1920.jpg?width=600&height=460&name=coca-cola-462776_1920.jpg) On Monday, July 10, 2017, U.S. District Judge Dale Fischer ordered Coca-Cola subsidiary, Odwalla Inc., and a class of consumers to resolve disputes over the beverage giant’s “no sugar added” fruit drink label in private mediation. Lead plaintiff, Stephen Wilson, alleged in March 2017 that Odwalla’s label, which was placed on the front of the beverage was in violation of FDA and state regulations because Odwalla Juice does not resemble and is not substitute for a food that normally contains added sugars.” The plaintiffs in the class action suit also alleged that in labeling the product as having “no sugar added,” the company was trying to capitalize on consumers’ efforts to reduce their sugar intake during a nation-wide obesity epidemic.[![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/1958486/7fe7e333-9e7f-4ab4-9414-500a6a903170.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1958486/7fe7e333-9e7f-4ab4-9414-500a6a903170) Odwalla, however, vehemently disagrees with plaintiffs’ argument. The company sees Wilson as interpreting the regulation “too narrowly.” They believe their label contains “nothing untrue or misleading” and goes further to state that similar, but not identical, products often contain added sugars. The defense stated in a failed bid for dismissal, that “\[p\]laintiff’s untenable theory is as follows: Odwalla’s ‘No Added Sugar’ claim is somehow deceptive despite its truth, because ‘substitute’ identical 100% juice products do not normally contain added sugar.” Odwalla is standing firm that they were not violating any FDA regulations, just reaffirming and highlighting the truth about their product. Judge Fischer has given the two parties until June 26, 2018 to complete the mandated private mediation. The case is *Stephen Wilson v. Odwalla Inc., et al.*, case number 2:17-cv-02763, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. --- *Counsel Financial provides working capital credit lines up to $5 million exclusively for the plaintiffs' bar in all states except California, where credit lines are issued by [California Attorney Lending](http://calattorneylending.com/).* [Legal News](https://counselfinancial.com/litigation-counsellor/topic/legal-news), [Blog](https://counselfinancial.com/litigation-counsellor/topic/blog), [Class Action](https://counselfinancial.com/litigation-counsellor/topic/class-action) ## Recent Posts ### [![buy-3692440_960_720](https://counselfinancial.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-files/Images/Royalty%20Free%20/buy-3692440_960_720.jpg?width=352&name=buy-3692440_960_720.jpg) Amazon Loses Bid to Dismiss William-Sonoma Claims of Trademark Dilution Learn More ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/theme-assets/link-graphic-green.svg)](https://counselfinancial.com/litigation-counsellor/amazon-loses-bid-to-dismiss-william-sonoma-claims-of-trademark-dilution) ### [![baby-179377_960_720](https://counselfinancial.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-files/Images/Royalty%20Free%20/baby-179377_960_720.jpg?width=352&name=baby-179377_960_720.jpg) $2.4 Million Settlement Submitted for Court Approval in Natural Baby Wash Class Action Learn More ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/theme-assets/link-graphic-green.svg)](https://counselfinancial.com/litigation-counsellor/2.4-million-settlement-submitted-for-court-approval-in-natural-baby-wash-class-action) ### [![dentures-1514697_1920.jpg](https://counselfinancial.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-files/Images/Royalty%20Free%20/dentures-1514697_1920.jpg?width=352&name=dentures-1514697_1920.jpg) Glaxo Smith Kline Makes Bid to End Denture Cream MDL Learn More ![](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/Counsel-Financial-Theme/images/theme-assets/link-graphic-green.svg)](https://counselfinancial.com/litigation-counsellor/glaxo-smith-kline-makes-bid-to-end-denture-cream-mdl) ![Counsel Financial](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/2024%20Website/Brand%20Logos/Full-Logo-Stacked.svg) ![minimal-brandmark](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/2024%20Website/Brand%20Logos/minimal-brandmark.svg) - [![location](https://counselfinancial.com/hubfs/2024%20Website/Icons/location.svg) 500 Pearl St., 
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