The ZOA Energy Preservative Free Claims Settlement offered up to $150 per person for consumers who bought ZOA Energy drinks bearing the “0 Preservatives” label between March 2021 and November 2025. However, the claim filing deadline of February 20, 2026 has already passed, so new claims can no longer be submitted. The $3 million settlement resolved allegations that ZOA Energy — the brand co-founded by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — misled buyers because its drinks actually contain citric acid and ascorbic acid, two ingredients that can function as preservatives.
If you already filed a claim before the deadline, your submission is still being processed and payouts will depend on the outcome of the Final Approval Hearing scheduled for March 26, 2026 in San Francisco. For those who missed the window, this settlement is effectively closed to new participants.
Table of Contents
- What Was the ZOA Energy Preservative Free Claims Settlement About?
- How Much Could Claimants Actually Receive from the ZOA Settlement?
- Who Qualified as a Class Member in the ZOA Energy Settlement?
- What Proof of Purchase Was Needed to Maximize the Payout?
- Why Citric Acid and Ascorbic Acid Sparked a Labeling Lawsuit
- Who Is Administering the ZOA Energy Settlement?
- What Happens Next with the ZOA Energy Settlement?
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Was the ZOA Energy Preservative Free Claims Settlement About?
The lawsuit, formally titled *Gershzon v. zoa Energy, LLC* (Case No. 3:23-cv-5444-JD), was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The plaintiff alleged that ZOA Energy’s prominent “0 preservatives” labeling was deceptive because the drinks contain citric acid and ascorbic acid.
While these ingredients are commonly associated with flavor enhancement and vitamin content respectively, both can also serve a preservative function in beverages — extending shelf life by inhibiting microbial growth or preventing oxidation. This distinction matters because a consumer scanning the label at a gas station or grocery store would reasonably believe the drink contains absolutely no preservative agents. The lawsuit argued that people paid a premium for what they thought was a cleaner product. ZOA Energy has not admitted any wrongdoing as part of the settlement, which is standard in class action cases — the company chose to settle rather than face the cost and uncertainty of a trial. The $3 million settlement fund covers all approved claims, attorneys’ fees, administrative costs, and service awards for the class representative.
How Much Could Claimants Actually Receive from the ZOA Settlement?
The settlement offered $1 per can of ZOA Energy purchased during the class period of March 1, 2021 through November 21, 2025. Claimants who provided proof of purchase — receipts, bank statements, or loyalty program records — could claim up to $150 maximum. Those without receipts could still file but were capped at $10 maximum, which translates to claiming ten cans without documentation. However, these figures represent the ceiling, not a guarantee.
If the total dollar amount of valid claims exceeds the $3 million fund after attorneys’ fees and administrative costs are subtracted, payments get reduced on a pro rata basis. That means everyone’s payout shrinks proportionally. In practice, the net fund available for claimants is always smaller than the headline number because legal fees and administration costs come off the top first. If you filed a claim for $10 without a receipt, your actual check could be less depending on how many people submitted claims. Settlement checks from funds of this size often land somewhere between $3 and $15 for no-receipt claimants, though this varies widely case by case.
Who Qualified as a Class Member in the ZOA Energy Settlement?
The eligible class included all U.S. residents who purchased any ZOA Energy drink labeled “0 Preservatives” for personal consumption — not for resale — between March 1, 2021 and November 21, 2025. This covered all flavors and varieties of ZOA Energy that carried the disputed labeling, whether purchased at Walmart, Amazon, GNC, a gas station, or anywhere else.
For example, if you regularly bought ZOA Energy at Costco in 2023 and kept your membership purchase history, you could have filed a claim with documentation showing dozens of cans purchased. A retailer or distributor who bought cases for resale would not qualify. The personal consumption requirement is a standard class action provision that keeps the settlement focused on end consumers who were actually influenced by the labeling. Anyone who wanted to exclude themselves from the settlement had to submit an opt-out request by February 13, 2026 — that deadline has also passed.
What Proof of Purchase Was Needed to Maximize the Payout?
The difference between a $10 maximum and a $150 maximum came down entirely to documentation. Acceptable proof of purchase typically includes store receipts, credit or debit card statements showing transactions at retailers where ZOA is sold, digital purchase confirmations from online orders, or loyalty program records. The tradeoff was straightforward: spend time digging through old receipts and bank statements for a significantly higher cap, or file quickly without proof and accept the $10 limit. For regular ZOA buyers, the effort of pulling up old Amazon orders or Costco receipts could have been worth it.
Someone who bought a 12-pack every month for two years could document well over 100 cans. But the challenge is that most people do not save grocery receipts for years, and bank statements often show only the retailer name without itemizing specific products. A charge at “Walmart” does not prove you bought ZOA specifically. This is a common friction point in consumer class actions — the people most affected often lack the documentation to prove it.
Why Citric Acid and Ascorbic Acid Sparked a Labeling Lawsuit
The core scientific question in this case was whether citric acid and ascorbic acid qualify as preservatives. The answer is not as simple as it might seem. Citric acid is widely used in the food and beverage industry as a flavoring agent and pH regulator, but it also inhibits bacterial growth — a preservative function. Ascorbic acid, better known as vitamin C, acts as an antioxidant that prevents spoilage.
The FDA does not have a rigid, exclusive classification for these ingredients, which means a manufacturer can list them under their non-preservative functions while technically being accurate. ZOA Energy’s defense likely would have centered on this ambiguity — that the ingredients were added for flavor and nutritional purposes, not as preservatives. But the plaintiff’s argument was about consumer perception, not technical ingredient classification. When a label says “0 Preservatives,” a reasonable shopper takes that at face value. This tension between ingredient multifunctionality and marketing claims is an ongoing issue in food labeling law, and this settlement does not set a binding legal precedent since it was resolved without a trial verdict.
Who Is Administering the ZOA Energy Settlement?
Kroll Settlement Administration LLC is handling claims processing and distribution for this settlement. Kroll is one of the larger claims administrators in the class action space, managing hundreds of settlements at any given time.
Their mailing address for this case is P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391, and the toll-free number for questions is (833) 890-6436. The official settlement website at www.ZOASettlement.com remains the primary source for updates on the case timeline and payment status.
What Happens Next with the ZOA Energy Settlement?
The Final Approval Hearing is set for March 26, 2026 at Courtroom 11 in the San Francisco Courthouse. At this hearing, the judge will review any objections filed by class members, evaluate the fairness of the settlement terms, and approve or modify the attorneys’ fee request. If the court grants final approval, Kroll will begin processing payments to approved claimants, which typically takes several weeks to a few months after approval.
For anyone who filed a claim before the February 20 deadline, the next step is simply to wait. Keep an eye on www.ZOASettlement.com for updates, and make sure the mailing address or email you provided during the claims process is still current. Settlement checks often go uncashed because they arrive months later at old addresses. If you moved since filing, contact Kroll at (833) 890-6436 to update your information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still file a claim for the ZOA Energy settlement?
No. The claim filing deadline was February 20, 2026, and it has already passed. New claims are no longer being accepted.
How much will I receive if I already filed a claim?
It depends on whether you submitted proof of purchase and how many total claims were filed. With proof, the maximum is $150; without proof, the cap is $10. These amounts may be reduced pro rata if total claims exceed the available fund.
When will payments be sent out?
Payments cannot be issued until after the Final Approval Hearing on March 26, 2026. If the court approves the settlement, checks or payments will typically follow within a few months.
Did ZOA Energy admit that its labeling was false?
No. ZOA Energy has not admitted any wrongdoing as part of the settlement. Settling a lawsuit is not an admission of liability.
What ZOA Energy products were covered by this settlement?
Any ZOA Energy drink that carried the “0 Preservatives” label and was purchased for personal consumption in the United States between March 1, 2021 and November 21, 2025.
Who do I contact if I have questions about my claim?
Contact the claims administrator, Kroll Settlement Administration LLC, at (833) 890-6436 or visit www.ZOASettlement.com.
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