The Celsius beverage company settled a $7.8 million class action lawsuit over false advertising claims regarding its energy drinks’ labeling. Specifically, Celsius was accused of falsely marketing its products as containing “no preservatives” while the drinks actually contained citric acid, a substance that functions as a preservative. If you purchased Celsius drinks between January 1, 2015 and November 23, 2022, you may be eligible for compensation ranging from $1 per can without proof of purchase to as much as $250 per claim if you have receipts to prove your purchase.
The settlement represents a significant case in the beverage industry’s ongoing battle over truthful ingredient labeling and marketing claims. Celsius Energy Drink, a popular workout supplement beverage often marketed to fitness enthusiasts and athletes, became the target of consumer litigation after purchasers discovered that the “no preservatives” claim on its packaging was misleading. The company has maintained that citric acid serves as a flavor enhancer rather than a preservative in their formulation, but they agreed to settle the lawsuit without admitting wrongdoing. This settlement process is now actively accepting claims from eligible consumers who meet the purchase period requirements.
Table of Contents
- What Was the Core False Advertising Claim Against Celsius?
- The Settlement Details and Claim Compensation Structure
- Recent Additional Litigation Against Celsius
- How to File a Claim and What to Gather
- Limitations and Warnings About the Settlement Process
- The Broader Context of Energy Drink Marketing and Ingredient Labeling
- Moving Forward and Monitoring Future Litigation
- Conclusion
What Was the Core False Advertising Claim Against Celsius?
The central allegation in this class action lawsuit centered on Celsius’s marketing of its energy drinks with a prominent “no preservatives” claim on the product packaging and advertising materials. However, laboratory analysis and ingredient investigations revealed that the beverages actually contained citric acid, a compound widely recognized and used in the food and beverage industry as a preservative agent. Citric acid extends shelf life by preventing bacterial growth and oxidation, which are core functions of preservatives. This contradiction between the marketing claim and the actual ingredients led consumers to file the class action lawsuit, arguing they were misled about the product’s composition. Citric acid is commonly used in dozens of food products, from sodas to juices to canned goods, precisely because of its preservative properties.
It has been approved by the FDA as a safe food additive and is listed as Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). Yet the fact remains that it serves a preservative function, regardless of whether manufacturers also use it for flavor enhancement. For example, a consumer who purchased Celsius drinks specifically because they believed they were free of all preservatives—perhaps due to health concerns, allergies, or personal preferences—was receiving a product that contradicted their purchasing decision based on misleading labeling. Celsius’s legal position during the settlement negotiations was that the company did not admit to wrongdoing and maintained that citric acid was used primarily as a flavor enhancer in their formulation. The settlement was reached without the company admitting liability, which is common in class action litigation. Nevertheless, the $7.8 million settlement amount suggests that the plaintiffs’ legal team had sufficient evidence of misleading marketing to present a credible claim to the court.
The Settlement Details and Claim Compensation Structure
The settlement established a compensation structure with multiple tiers based on proof of purchase, recognizing that many consumers may not have retained receipts from purchases made over the seven-year claim period. Consumers who cannot provide proof of purchase are eligible for up to $20 per claim, simply by submitting their information and attesting to their purchase history. This “no-proof-of-purchase” option is significant because many consumers do not keep receipts for routine beverage purchases, and a strict proof requirement would exclude many legitimate claimants. For consumers who do have proof of purchase, such as receipts or credit card statements, the settlement increases compensation to up to $250 per claim. At a minimum, eligible consumers receive $1 per individual can of Celsius energy drink purchased, and $5 per package for the powdered versions of the product.
This tiered approach reflects the settlement’s attempt to fairly compensate consumers based on the level of documentation they can provide. For example, a customer who purchased twenty-four cans of Celsius during the claim period would receive at least $24 without any proof, though they could potentially receive more if they retain receipts showing their actual purchases. one important limitation of the settlement is the strict claim period: only purchases made between January 1, 2015 and November 23, 2022 are covered. Any Celsius drinks purchased before 2015 or after November 23, 2022 do not qualify for compensation under this settlement. This means that consumers who have purchased Celsius more recently are not part of this particular settlement, even if they purchased the same allegedly falsely-labeled products. The settlement process itself typically requires submission by a specific deadline, often years after the settlement is initially approved, so consumers who believe they are eligible should verify the current claim deadline before submitting.
Recent Additional Litigation Against Celsius
Beyond the false advertising settlement regarding preservatives, Celsius has faced additional legal challenges that emerged in 2024 and 2025. New lawsuits have been filed alleging that Celsius misled investors by overstating the scope and success of its partnership with PepsiCo and by failing to disclose significant inventory overstock issues. These investor-focused lawsuits represent a different category of legal action compared to consumer false advertising claims, as they target the company’s securities disclosures rather than product labeling. Separately, California consumers filed suit against Celsius alleging that influencers sponsored to promote Celsius energy drinks on social media failed to properly disclose their financial relationships with the company.
Federal advertising regulations require that paid endorsements be clearly labeled as such, and if influencers were promoting Celsius without adequate disclosure of their compensation arrangement, that constitutes a violation of the Federal Trade Commission Act. This type of influencer marketing case reflects broader concerns about undisclosed sponsorships in the social media age, where consumers may see what appears to be a genuine recommendation when it is actually a paid advertisement. These additional lawsuits indicate that Celsius has faced multiple regulatory and legal challenges across different dimensions—consumer protection, securities law, and advertising disclosure—suggesting that the company’s marketing and business practices have been subject to significant scrutiny. For consumers who follow these developments, it underscores the importance of remaining skeptical of all marketing claims and seeking independent verification of product benefits and ingredients.
How to File a Claim and What to Gather
Filing a claim under the Celsius settlement requires either providing proof of purchase or submitting an affidavit attesting to your purchase history during the claim period. For consumers who have preserved receipts, credit card statements, or emails from online retailers, these documents serve as proof of purchase. If you purchased Celsius drinks at a grocery store, convenience store, or gym and still have the receipt, that is the strongest form of documentation. Many retailers now provide digital receipts via email, which can also serve as valid proof of purchase. If you do not have proof of purchase, you can still file a claim by submitting an affidavit—a sworn statement under penalty of perjury—attesting that you purchased Celsius drinks during the specified period.
In your affidavit, you should describe what you remember about your purchases: the approximate timeframe, the quantity, the types of Celsius drinks (cans or powdered versions), and where you purchased them (grocery stores, gyms, convenience stores, online retailers). The more specific you can be, the more credible your claim appears. For example, if you remember that you purchased Celsius regularly at your gym’s convenience store during 2019 and 2020, you should include those details. Keep in mind that submitting a false or fraudulent claim can result in criminal charges for perjury or fraud. The settlement claims administrator verifies claims and may request additional documentation if your claim appears inconsistent or suspicious. Therefore, accuracy is essential—only submit claims for products you actually purchased, and be honest about the quantities and timeframes to the best of your recollection.
Limitations and Warnings About the Settlement Process
One critical warning about class action settlements is that the compensation amounts are typically divided among a large number of claimants, which means the per-claim payment is often significantly smaller than advertised. The $7.8 million settlement sounds substantial until it is divided among all eligible claimants. If 100,000 consumers submit valid claims, the average payout would be only $78 per person—and the actual number of claimants could be far higher, further reducing individual payments. Additionally, a portion of the settlement goes to attorneys’ fees and the costs of administering the claims process, which further reduces the amount available for claimants. Another limitation is that participating in a class action settlement typically involves releasing your right to sue the company independently for the same issue.
By submitting a claim and accepting compensation, you agree that you cannot pursue a separate lawsuit against Celsius for false advertising regarding the “no preservatives” claim. This is a standard provision of class action settlements, designed to provide companies with legal finality. If you have other independent claims against Celsius—such as a personal injury claim unrelated to the false advertising allegation—those may not be affected, but you should review the settlement documents carefully to understand exactly what legal rights you are waiving. The settlement also does not apply to purchases made after November 23, 2022, which is a significant limitation if you have continued to purchase Celsius drinks more recently. Consumers who purchased Celsius in 2023, 2024, or 2025 are not eligible for compensation under this particular settlement, even if the company was still making the same or similar false advertising claims during that period. This highlights a general limitation of class action litigation: each settlement only covers a specific time period and specific claims, so consumers should not assume that one settlement addresses all of their grievances with a company.
The Broader Context of Energy Drink Marketing and Ingredient Labeling
The Celsius settlement is part of a broader pattern of litigation and regulatory scrutiny regarding how energy drink manufacturers market their products and disclose ingredients. The energy drink industry has faced numerous legal challenges over claims about product safety, efficacy, and ingredient transparency. Consumers often purchase energy drinks based on marketing claims about performance enhancement, ingredient quality, or health benefits, only to discover that the actual product composition does not match the promotional messaging.
The “no preservatives” claim that was at issue in the Celsius case represents a particularly interesting marketing angle because many consumers associate preservatives with unhealthy or artificial products. By claiming to be preservative-free, Celsius positioned itself as a cleaner, more natural alternative to other beverages. However, this marketing claim directly contradicted the presence of citric acid, a commonly used preservative, in the actual product. This type of misleading labeling exploits consumer preferences for “natural” or “clean” products and demonstrates why careful scrutiny of ingredient lists and marketing claims is essential when making purchasing decisions.
Moving Forward and Monitoring Future Litigation
For consumers who are aware of the Celsius settlement, the most important immediate action is to determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements and submit a claim before the deadline. Settlement claim deadlines are typically firm, and claims submitted after the deadline are not eligible for compensation.
You can typically find information about the current claim deadline and claim submission process through the official settlement administrator’s website, which is usually identified in settlement notices sent to consumers or available through a simple online search for “Celsius settlement” and “claim form.” Looking forward, the additional lawsuits filed against Celsius in 2024 and 2025 suggest that consumers and investors will continue to scrutinize the company’s marketing and business practices. If any of these additional litigations result in successful settlements or judgments against Celsius, affected consumers may become eligible for additional compensation. The takeaway for all consumers is that energy drink marketing claims should be verified independently, and the presence of a substance in a product should not be confused with its primary function—citric acid may enhance flavor, but it also functions as a preservative, and manufacturers have a legal obligation to accurately describe how their ingredients function.
Conclusion
The $7.8 million Celsius settlement represents a significant resolution to false advertising claims related to the company’s “no preservatives” marketing claim, despite Celsius’s assertion that citric acid was used as a flavor enhancer. Eligible consumers who purchased Celsius drinks between January 1, 2015 and November 23, 2022 can potentially recover compensation ranging from $1 per can (without proof of purchase) to $250 per claim (with documentation), though the actual per-claim payout will depend on the total number of valid claims submitted. The settlement process requires either submission of proof of purchase or a sworn affidavit attesting to your purchase history.
If you believe you are eligible, the critical next step is to submit your claim before the deadline set by the settlement administrator. Document your purchases as specifically as possible, gather any available receipts or purchase records, and be prepared to attest under penalty of perjury to the details of your purchase history if you lack formal documentation. Monitor for updates on the additional lawsuits filed against Celsius in 2024 and 2025, as these may result in additional settlement opportunities or regulatory actions that could affect your consumer rights.