The ZOA Energy “0 Preservatives” class action settlement offered up to $150 per household for consumers who purchased ZOA Energy drinks between March 1, 2021 and November 21, 2025. The claim form, administered through www.ZOASettlement.com, required claimants to provide basic household information and, optionally, proof of purchase for higher payouts. However, the February 20, 2026 deadline to file a claim has already passed, meaning new claims can no longer be submitted. The settlement stems from *Gershzon v. ZOA Energy, LLC*, Case No.
3:23-cv-5444-JD, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The lawsuit alleged that ZOA Energy drinks — co-owned by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson — carried misleading “0 Preservatives” labels despite containing citric acid and ascorbic acid, both of which can function as preservatives. ZOA denied the allegations and maintained its labeling was truthful and legally compliant. The court did not rule in favor of either side, and the parties agreed to a $3 million settlement fund.
Table of Contents
- What Did the ZOA Energy Preservative Free Claims Settlement Require on the Claim Form?
- How Much Will ZOA Settlement Claimants Actually Receive?
- Why Was ZOA Energy Sued Over Its “0 Preservatives” Label?
- Key Deadlines and the Final Approval Hearing on March 26, 2026
- What Happens If You Missed the ZOA Settlement Claim Deadline?
- How This Settlement Compares to Other Beverage Labeling Cases
- What This Case Signals for Food and Beverage Labeling Going Forward
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Did the ZOA Energy Preservative Free Claims Settlement Require on the Claim Form?
The zoa Settlement claim form asked for standard identifying information — name, mailing address, and email — along with a declaration that the claimant was a U.S. resident who purchased ZOA Energy drinks labeled “0 Preservatives” for personal consumption, not resale. Claimants could file online at www.ZOASettlement.com or mail a physical form to Kroll Settlement Administration at P.O. Box 225391, New York, NY 10150-5391.
The form was structured around two tiers: those with proof of purchase and those without. For claimants who could produce receipts, bank statements, or other documentation showing ZOA Energy purchases, the payout was $1 per can up to a maximum of $150 per household. For those without proof of purchase — which likely described the majority of filers — the payout was $1 per can up to $10 per household, with no receipt required. This two-tier approach is common in consumer product settlements, and it rewards people who kept their records while still allowing casual buyers to participate. One important detail: the settlement limited claims to one per household, not one per person, so multiple people living at the same address could not each file separately.
How Much Will ZOA Settlement Claimants Actually Receive?
The $3 million settlement fund sounds substantial, but individual payouts depend entirely on how many valid claims were filed before the February 20, 2026 deadline. If total valid claims exceed the fund, each claimant’s payout will be reduced on a pro-rata basis. For context, ZOA Energy is a nationally distributed brand sold at major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and GNC, so the potential class size is enormous. In similar beverage labeling settlements, high claim volumes have sometimes reduced per-household payouts to a fraction of the stated maximums.
However, if the total value of approved claims comes in well under $3 million — which is possible given that many consumers never hear about these settlements — claimants could receive the full amount they claimed. The $10 cap for claimants without receipts serves as a natural brake on the fund’s depletion, since most filers likely fell into that category. If you filed a claim and claimed the maximum $150 with receipts, your actual payout will depend on the ratio of total claims to the available fund. There is no way to know the exact figure until Kroll Settlement Administration processes all claims after final approval.
Why Was ZOA Energy Sued Over Its “0 Preservatives” Label?
The core allegation was straightforward: ZOA Energy prominently marketed its drinks as containing “0 preservatives,” but the ingredient list included citric acid and ascorbic acid. While these ingredients are commonly used as flavor enhancers and antioxidants respectively, they also have well-documented preservative functions in food science. Citric acid lowers pH to inhibit microbial growth, and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) prevents oxidation — both classic preservation mechanisms. The plaintiff argued that labeling these drinks as preservative-free was misleading to reasonable consumers.
ZOA Energy pushed back, maintaining that its use of citric acid and ascorbic acid was for flavoring and nutritional purposes, not as preservatives, and that its labeling was accurate and compliant with applicable regulations. This is a gray area in food labeling law — an ingredient can serve multiple functions, and companies often argue that the primary purpose of an ingredient determines how it should be labeled. The court never issued a ruling on the merits, as the parties reached a settlement before trial. This means there was no legal finding that ZOA’s labels were actually deceptive, a distinction ZOA would want consumers to understand.
Key Deadlines and the Final Approval Hearing on March 26, 2026
The settlement timeline has several critical dates, most of which have already passed. The claim filing deadline was February 20, 2026, and the deadline to opt out or file objections was February 13, 2026. Both windows are now closed. The next milestone is the Final Approval Hearing, scheduled for March 26, 2026 at the San Francisco Courthouse, where the judge will decide whether to grant final approval to the settlement terms.
At that hearing, the court will consider whether the settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate for the class. If any class members filed objections before the deadline, the judge will review those as well. Assuming the court approves the settlement and no appeals are filed, payments to claimants would likely begin arriving in mid-to-late 2026. However, if a class member or other party appeals the approval, the payment timeline could be delayed by months or even years. This is the tradeoff with class action settlements — the process provides compensation without the risk and expense of trial, but it moves slowly through procedural steps that are largely outside any individual claimant’s control.
What Happens If You Missed the ZOA Settlement Claim Deadline?
If you did not file a claim by February 20, 2026, you are almost certainly out of luck for receiving a direct payment from this settlement. Courts rarely grant extensions to filing deadlines in class action settlements, and doing so would be unusual absent extraordinary circumstances. The deadline was widely publicized through direct notice, media coverage, and the official settlement website, so late-filing arguments face an uphill battle. That said, missing the claim deadline does not mean you have no rights at all.
Unless you affirmatively opted out of the settlement by February 13, 2026, you are still a class member — which means you are bound by the settlement’s release of claims. In practical terms, this means you gave up your right to sue ZOA Energy individually over the “0 Preservatives” labeling issue without receiving any compensation. This is a common and frustrating outcome in consumer class actions: people who do not pay attention to settlement notices end up releasing their claims for nothing. It underscores why checking for open settlements relevant to products you buy is worth the occasional effort.
How This Settlement Compares to Other Beverage Labeling Cases
The ZOA settlement follows a growing trend of class actions targeting “natural,” “clean,” or preservative-free marketing claims in the beverage industry. Similar lawsuits have targeted brands over claims about artificial flavoring, sugar content, and ingredient sourcing.
The $3 million fund here is modest compared to some beverage settlements — for example, Red Bull paid $13 million in 2014 over its “gives you wings” performance claims — but it is consistent with the narrower scope of a labeling-specific dispute. The $1-per-can payout structure is also typical for cases where the alleged harm is a small price premium consumers paid based on misleading marketing rather than a safety issue.
What This Case Signals for Food and Beverage Labeling Going Forward
The ZOA settlement is part of a broader wave of scrutiny around functional ingredient labeling in the food and beverage space. As consumers increasingly seek out “clean label” products, companies face growing legal risk when their marketing claims do not align precisely with their ingredient lists. The FDA’s current framework gives manufacturers significant discretion in how they characterize ingredient functions, but plaintiffs’ attorneys have found that juries and judges are often sympathetic to arguments that consumers interpret labels at face value.
Expect more settlements like this one as the gap between marketing language and food science terminology continues to generate litigation. For ZOA Energy specifically, the company will need to evaluate whether to modify its labeling going forward. The settlement does not require ZOA to change its labels, but the financial and reputational cost of the litigation may prompt adjustments. Consumers who care about preservative-free claims should take this case as a reminder to look beyond front-of-package marketing and read the actual ingredient list.
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 passed. Late claims are generally not accepted in class action settlements.
How much will I get from the ZOA settlement?
If you filed with proof of purchase, up to $150 per household at $1 per can. Without proof, up to $10 per household. These amounts may be reduced pro-rata if total claims exceed the $3 million fund.
When will ZOA settlement payments be sent out?
The Final Approval Hearing is March 26, 2026. If the court approves the settlement and there are no appeals, payments are expected in mid-to-late 2026.
Do I need a receipt to get paid from the ZOA settlement?
No. Claimants without receipts could claim up to $10 per household without any proof of purchase. Those with receipts could claim up to $150.
Who is eligible for the ZOA Energy class action settlement?
U.S. residents who purchased any ZOA Energy drink labeled “0 Preservatives” between March 1, 2021 and November 21, 2025 for personal use, not for resale.
Is the limit per person or per household?
Per household. Only one claim could be submitted per household address, regardless of how many people in the home purchased ZOA products.
You Might Also Like
- Wells Fargo Free Trial Subscription Billing Class Action Settlement: Claim Form Details
- Joint Juice False Advertising Class Action Settlement: Claim Form Details
- Google Android Cellular Data Collection Class Action Settlement: Claim Form Details