Editing Snapple (section)

== Controversies ==

===Lawsuits===
In 2009, a consumer lawsuit was brought against Snapple in [[California]]. The suit alleged the drinks contained unhealthy ingredients such as [[High-fructose corn syrup|high fructose corn syrup]] and deceptive names on labels that led consumers to believe that certain healthy elements are in the drinks that are not really present.<ref name=NotNatural>{{cite web|url=http://www.wiredprnews.com/2009/03/30/lawsuit-alleges-snapple-drinks-are-not-all-natural-or-fruity_200903302958.html|title=Lawsuit Alleges Snapple Drinks Are Not All Natural or Fruity|date=30 March 2009|publisher=WiredPRNews.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140926052119/http://www.wiredprnews.com/2009/03/30/lawsuit-alleges-snapple-drinks-are-not-all-natural-or-fruity_200903302958.html|archive-date=26 September 2014}}</ref>

In 2010, in a lawsuit against Snapple in the federal District of New Jersey, the court certified to the FDA for an administrative determination the question whether high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) qualifies as a "natural" ingredient. In 2010, the FDA responded by letter and declined to provide the court with the requested guidance. Stating that it would take two to three years to engage in a transparent proceeding to elicit the proper public participation, the FDA again cited its limited resources and more pressing food-safety concerns.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://apps.americanbar.org/litigation/committees/classactions/articles/spring2012-0412-all-natural-labels-mean-marketing.html|publisher=American Bar Association|title=Confusion in Court over "All Natural" Claims|author=Goulet, Dawn|date=30 April 2012|access-date=29 December 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104183656/http://apps.americanbar.org/litigation/committees/classactions/articles/spring2012-0412-all-natural-labels-mean-marketing.html|archive-date=4 January 2016}}</ref>

In 2011, a New York federal court dismissed a different lawsuit accusing Snapple of misleading consumers by labeling drinks sweetened with high fructose corn syrup as "all natural" when the drink contained no natural juice. The court found that the plaintiffs had failed to show that they were injured as a result of Snapple's labeling.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.law360.com/articles/221637/snapple-beats-all-natural-label-suit|work=Law360|title=Snapple Beats 'All Natural' Label Suit|author=Rubenstein, Abigail|date=24 January 2011|access-date=29 December 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304080444/http://www.law360.com/articles/221637/snapple-beats-all-natural-label-suit|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

After the lawsuit in May 2009, Snapple was made with [[sugar]], not [[high fructose corn syrup]]. In certain areas the older formula is still sold in stores, but this is becoming increasingly rare.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

=== Snapple and New York City schools ===
In October 2003, Snapple began its sponsorship of the [[New York City public school system]] (and other parcels in the area), as part of the deal to make Snapple [[New York City]]'s official beverage.<ref name="snappledeal">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/17/dining/the-snapple-deal-how-sweet-it-is.html?sec=health|title=The Snapple Deal: How Sweet It Is|last=Burros|first=Marian|date=17 September 2003|work=New York Times|access-date=1 April 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903162345/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/17/dining/the-snapple-deal-how-sweet-it-is.html?sec=health|archive-date=3 September 2014}}</ref> The company promised an $8 million per year profit for city schools if it were allowed to sell its drinks, including juice and [[bottled water]], in school [[vending machine]]s.<ref name="snappledeal"/>

Snapple was able to acquire the contract in part because [[New York City]] officials did not want to encourage the consumption of [[Soft drink|sodas]], which have been linked to childhood [[obesity]] and [[diabetes]] and are generally considered unhealthy. The Snapple juice drinks, specifically created to meet rules banning soda and other sugary snacks from city schools, are marketed under the "Snapple 100% Juiced!" label.<ref name="snappledeal"/> The flavors available under this brand include Green Apple, Fruit Punch, Melon Berry, Grape, Orange Mango, and Strawberry Lime.<ref name="snappledeal"/> Although the juice drinks are fortified with vitamins and minerals, a 16-ounce bottle contains more sugar (41&nbsp;grams) than a 12-ounce can of [[Coca-Cola]] (39&nbsp;grams).<ref name="snappledeal"/>

Dr. [[Michael F. Jacobson]], the [[executive director]] of the [[Center for Science in the Public Interest]], called the drinks "little better than vitamin-fortified sugar water."<ref name="snappledeal"/> In addition, the concentrates used in the drinks, apple, grape and pear, are the least expensive and nutritious. Dr. Toni Liquori, associate professor at the [[Teachers College, Columbia University|Columbia Teachers College]], questioned the sale of bottled water in schools, saying "If anything, we should have cold water in our schools."<ref name="snappledeal"/>

The deal also gave Snapple exclusive rights to sell its tea and juice-based drinks in vending machines on all New York City properties starting in January 2004. Snapple paid the City $106 million for the rights and agreed to spend $60 million more to marketing and promotion over the length of the five-year contract.<ref name=NYCRights>{{cite news|last=Day|first=Sherri|title=Sizing Up Snapple's Drink Deal With New York City|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/12/business/sizing-up-snapple-s-drink-deal-with-new-york-city.html|access-date=25 April 2013|newspaper=New York Times|date=12 September 2003|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150527233610/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/12/business/sizing-up-snapple-s-drink-deal-with-new-york-city.html|archive-date=27 May 2015}}</ref>

=== K symbol ===
In the early 1990s, the original label graphic on the Iced Tea flavor, a depiction of the United States historical event the [[Boston Tea Party]], was replaced due to misinformation espoused by protest groups claiming the ships on the packaging were slave trading vessels in [[New York Harbor]]. Snapple also fell victim to a rumor that the small ''K'' was either a representation of the [[Ku Klux Klan|Klan]], or of an imagined [[Kosher tax (antisemitic canard)|Jewish Tax]] (augmented by the fact that all three founders were Jewish). The ''K'' on the products actually meant that they were [[hechsher|certified kosher]].  There were also rumors that the company donated to the controversial pro-life organization [[Operation Save America|Operation Rescue]].

Snapple initially tried to quell these rumors quietly, but ultimately had to launch a media campaign to squash them, pointing out it would be bad for business to support controversial issues in such a way as the rumors implied. Through a media campaign with the [[NAACP]], Snapple successfully fought back these rumors, although occasionally they are still brought up as fact.<ref name=Snopes1>{{cite web|url=http://www.snopes.com/rumors/snapple.htm |title=Snapple Rumors |publisher=Snopes.com |date=21 April 2008|access-date=12 November 2012}}</ref><ref name=Snopes2>{{cite web|title=Snapple Dragoon|url=http://www.snopes.com/business/alliance/snapple.asp|publisher=Snopes.com|access-date=25 April 2013|date=28 April 2011}}</ref>