A morning cup of joe is something a lot of people like. It's a great morning ritual; it gets you set up for the day. Some like the taste, and some like the smell. But some like the caffeine. So much so, they're willing to go to court over it.
As reported by People, customers across California, New York, and Illinois have taken Trader Joe's to court. They say that Trader Joe's branded French Roast Low Acid whole bean coffee contains "half the caffeine of typical coffee blends." They say that this is a classic case of false advertising.
The issue isn't in the lack of caffeine itself necessarily; it's that the label doesn't say it has less caffeine. The complaint specifically notes that decaffeinated and half-caffeinated coffees fulfill a niche in the market, and the lack of labeling on a product implies it is full caffeine. Think of labeling a tomato in a store as "vegan"... aren't all tomatoes vegan by nature?
But, it looks like the customers are seeking damages. They argue that coffee drinkers drink the beverage specifically for the caffeine. "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... accordingly, the amount of caffeine in a coffee blend affects a consumer's purchasing decision."
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Unlabeled Caffeine Amounts Can Kill
While this might seem quite the frivolous lawsuit, it's important to note that when potentially dangerous ingredients aren't properly represented, things can get dangerous quickly.
We reported earlier this month that a Texas beauty queen died after drinking heavily caffeinated drinks. Her parents took the drinks company to court after alleging that the drinks didn't give enough warning about the true content present.
Larissa Rodriguez, a high school senior, tragically died of cardiomyopathy, a rare heart condition. This came after she drank at least "at least one" 12-ounces can of Alani Nu energy drink before her death.
The lawsuit claims that the back of the can does not warn heavily enough against the high caffeine content in the drink.
