A US federal judge has rejected a claim that the use of the term 'All Natural' on Snapple drinks was deceptive because the products contained high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The suit filed by Stacy Holk on behalf of herself and other consumers, maintained that the use of the term 'Natural' was deceitful because the drinks contained High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS), a "highly processed sugar substitute", which is created through "enzymatically catalyzed chemical reactions in factories".

According to Food Quality News, Holk maintained she paid a premium for Snapple's Iced Tea and Juice Drinks, and had received something "less than and different from what was promised and bargained for". Unfortunately for her, the court disagreed saying:

This court will not determine that which the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), with all of its scientific expertise, has yet to determine, namely how the terms 'natural' and 'all natural' should be defined and whether either may be used on the label of a beverage containing HFCS. Judge Cooper said it is up to FDA, not the court, to define 'natural'.

Last year, both Cadbury Schweppes and Kraft faced lawsuits after making 'natural' label claims on 7Up and Capri Sun, but both companies changed the labeling of their products before any legal action was taken.

The FDA has told, FoodNavigator-USA that 'Natural' will remain undefined for the immediate future as they have no have no plans to make any OFFICIAL statements on this issue. UNOFFICIALLY, the FDA has said:

Products containing high fructose corn syrup cannot be considered 'natural' and should not be labeled as such ... The use of synthetic fixing agents in the enzyme preparation, which is then used to produce HFCS, would not be consistent with our (...) policy regarding the use of the term 'natural'.

So Snapple knows that consumers don't like it, the FDA doesn't like it, but they chose to do it anyway hoping to fool consumers.

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