‘Sorta Sweet’ Tea Means Just That: No Deception, Snapple Says

Snapple Beverage Corp. told a California federal court a consumer’s would-be class allegations that “Sorta Sweet” Straight-Up Tea tricks people into thinking it’s low in sugar are “fanciful, not plausible.”

Robbin Sommer alleges “sorta” is a synomym for “low,” making the marketing deceptive because Straight Up Tea contains nearly half the maximum daily amount of added sugar recommended by federal dietary guidelines.

Not so, according to Snapple, which owns the brand.

“Sweet” refers to the product’s taste and “Sorta” means “kind of” or “somewhat,” the beverage maker said in a Thursday filing urging the U.S. District Court for the Northern...