Arizona Iced Tea Buyers See ‘No Preservatives’ Claims Advance

Iced tea drinkers may pursue most of their claims in a proposed class suit alleging Arizona Beverages USA LLC and affiliated companies misleadingly market the drinks as having “no preservatives” despite the inclusion of citric acid, a New York federal court said.

Californians Ahmed Ashour and Joy Brown, and New Yorker Crystal Townes allege citric acid is a preservative that prevents the growth of bacteria, rendering the claims misleading.

Their claims under California and New York consumer protection statutes advanced, according to a Monday order from the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

They have sufficiently ...