Trouble is brewing for Trader Joe's, and it could mean cash back for shoppers. Customers across the US have launched a lawsuit against the grocery chain, claiming a popular product does not deliver the energy boost they expected.
The Core of the Case
At the center of the case is the retailer's French Roast Low Acid whole bean coffee, which shoppers say contains barely half the caffeine of a typical cup. The complaint, filed in California by customers from California, New York, and Illinois, states that nothing on the product's label informs shoppers they are buying coffee with reduced caffeine.
According to the lawsuit, Trader Joe's Low Acid French Roast has 51 percent less caffeine than Trader Joe's Dark French Roast coffee. Regular coffee typically contains between 85 and 120 milligrams of caffeine per 8-ounce cup, depending on the roast and brewing method. By comparison, decaf usually contains 2 to 5 milligrams per 8-ounce cup, while 'half-caff' blends contain around 40 to 60 milligrams.
Misleading Labeling Allegations
The lawsuit argues that Trader Joe's Low Acid French Roast should be labeled as 'half-caff' because of its caffeine levels. Because the label does not flag the lower caffeine content, customers bought the product believing it was fully caffeinated, the suit claims. The lawsuit further asserts that Trader Joe's customers rely on caffeine to fuel their lives. If shoppers did choose to purchase a 'half-caff' product, the lawsuit said, they would pay less for it.
'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,' the lawsuit said. 'Accordingly, the amount of caffeine in a coffee blend affects a consumer's purchasing decision,' it adds.
Legal Action and Potential Payout
As a result, the plaintiffs aim to stop Trader Joe's 'unlawful sales and marketing of its product,' while also seeking funds for 'damages' they sustained from the 'fraudulent sales and misleading marketing.' This is a class action lawsuit, meaning Trader Joe's customers who purchased the product may be eligible for a payout. The exact amount, however, has not yet been disclosed.
Previous Lawsuits Against Trader Joe's
This would not be the first time the grocery chain was hit with a lawsuit. Just weeks prior, Trader Joe's settled a lawsuit for $7.4 million after exposing too many credit card numbers on a customer's receipt. In 2023, Trader Joe's faced two lawsuits accusing them of selling dark chocolate that contained toxic metals. Both suits were filed in New York and came just weeks after a watchdog found two of the store's products contained lead and cadmium. The lawsuits were dismissed in 2025 after a judge determined information about heavy metals in chocolate had already been publicized through scientific studies.
Earlier this year, Trader Joe's was forced to recall millions of pounds of frozen fried rice products after safety concerns, with the total recall eventually ballooning to around 47 million pounds.
