Coca-Cola, the parent company to Simply Tropical juice, is facing a lawsuit following third-party tests that found high levels of PFA's, otherwise known as forever chemicals, in one of their products.
The lawsuit argues that the presence of these unnatural chemicals contradicts Simply Orange's advertising stating the juice is "all-natural" and misleads consumers. The third part test results and the lawsuit claims that the levels were 'hundreds of times' above federal limits for drinking water.
The limits, which were made stricter last summer, are 0.02 ppt for PFOS and 0.004 ppt for PFOA.
It is currently unknown how the PFAS chemicals may have contaminated the juice, whether from packaging or water components, but these chemicals are not uncommon. PFAS chemicals can also be found in everyday items such as food packaging and cookware, carpets and textiles, and contaminated soil, but most commonly through water consumption.
Exposure to high levels of PFAS can lead to increased risks of kidney or testicular cancer, fetal complications, liver disease, and higher cholesterol levels. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), PFAS do not break down easily and can build up in our bodies and environment.
