Trader Joe's customers have filed a lawsuit against the popular grocery chain, alleging that its French Roast Low Acid whole bean coffee contains significantly less caffeine than consumers are led to believe. The legal action, initiated in a California court on Thursday, claims that the company deceived customers by implying the coffee had a standard caffeine content when it actually contained much less.
Details of the Allegations
According to the lawsuit, the French Roast Low Acid coffee contains only 51 percent of the caffeine found in Trader Joe's Dark French Roast coffee and 45 percent of the caffeine in Trader Joe's House Blend coffee. The plaintiffs argue that this disparity is not disclosed on the product's label, leading customers to believe they are purchasing a fully caffeinated product.
The lawsuit states, "It is so common that it is now cliché that coffee drinkers depend on the caffeine contained therein to provide them with the energy they need to get through the day." However, independent testing revealed that the coffee in question has roughly half the caffeine of a regular blend.
Labeling Practices Under Scrutiny
The plaintiffs point out that it is standard practice not to indicate caffeine levels on coffee labels unless the caffeine content has been reduced. For instance, "decaf" and "half-caff" coffees are explicitly labeled as such. The French Roast Low Acid coffee, however, does not carry any such designation, leading customers to assume it is fully caffeinated.
The lawsuit seeks to halt what it describes as Trader Joe's "unlawful sales and marketing" of the product and demands monetary damages for affected consumers. The Independent has contacted Trader Joe's and the customers' attorney for comment.
Separate Legal Woes
This is not the only legal challenge facing Trader Joe's. In a separate incident, a Portland woman named Julee O'Neil claims she found a fingertip from a rubber glove in the grocery chain's orange juice. The lawsuit expresses concern that "the human hand that was in the tip of the glove was also severed and was part of the pulp she had been periodically drinking."
Both cases highlight ongoing scrutiny of the retailer's product quality and transparency.
