The ZOA Energy settlement offers three tiers of compensation to consumers who purchased the brand’s “0 Preservatives” labeled drinks: up to $10 per household without any proof of purchase, $1 per can with receipts up to a maximum of $150 per household, and ongoing court-monitored oversight of labeling practices. The $3 million settlement fund in *Mikhail Gershzon v. ZOA Energy, LLC* resolves allegations that ZOA Energy drinks contained citric acid and ascorbic acid — ingredients widely recognized as chemical preservatives — despite the prominent “0 Preservatives” claim on every can.
For someone who bought a case of ZOA every month over the roughly four-and-a-half-year class period, the $150 cap with receipts represents a meaningful recovery, while the no-receipt option at least acknowledges the purchase even without documentation. The claim filing deadline of February 20, 2026 has already passed, but the settlement remains relevant for class members who filed on time and are now waiting for payment, as well as anyone tracking how food and beverage labeling lawsuits play out.
Table of Contents
- What Are the ZOA Energy Settlement Benefits and How Much Can You Receive?
- Why Did ZOA Energy Face a Preservatives Lawsuit in the First Place?
- The Final Approval Hearing and What It Means for Your Payment
- Comparing the No-Receipt and Receipt-Based Claim Options
- How Attorney Fees and Claim Volume Affect Your Actual Payout
- The Broader Pattern of “0 Preservatives” and Clean Label Lawsuits
- What Happens After the Settlement Is Finalized
- Frequently Asked Questions
What Are the ZOA Energy Settlement Benefits and How Much Can You Receive?
The settlement benefits break into two straightforward categories based on whether you kept your receipts. Class members who filed without proof of purchase are eligible for a flat payment of up to $10 per household. Those who submitted receipts or other purchase documentation can claim $1 per can, capped at $150 per household. The “up to” language matters — if the total valid claims exceed the available funds, each payment gets reduced proportionally. Conversely, if fewer people file than expected, individual payouts could reach those maximum amounts.
To put this in perspective, consider someone who purchased two zoa cans per week over the class period running from March 1, 2021 through November 21, 2025. That works out to roughly 490 cans, but the $150 household cap means only the first 150 cans effectively count toward compensation. Meanwhile, someone who bought a single can at a gas station four years ago and has no receipt can still collect up to $10 simply by having filed a valid claim before the deadline. One critical detail: approximately 33% of the $3 million fund — around $1 million — will be deducted for attorney fees and administrative costs before any distribution to class members. That leaves roughly $2 million to split among all valid claimants. The actual per-person payout depends entirely on how many people filed claims, which won’t be clear until after the final approval hearing.
Why Did ZOA Energy Face a Preservatives Lawsuit in the First Place?
The core allegation is straightforward: ZOA Energy drinks carried a “0 Preservatives” label while containing citric acid and ascorbic acid, both of which function as chemical preservatives in the food and beverage industry. Citric acid lowers pH levels, creating an environment hostile to bacteria and mold — effectively extending shelf life, which is the textbook definition of preservation. Ascorbic acid, commonly known as Vitamin C, acts as an antioxidant that prevents oxidation and degradation of the product. Both ingredients serve dual purposes, but their preservative function is well-documented in food science. ZOA Energy denies any wrongdoing. The company maintains that citric acid and ascorbic acid were included for flavoring and nutritional purposes, and that its labeling was truthful and compliant with applicable law.
This is the standard defense in food labeling cases — ingredients can serve multiple functions, and manufacturers often argue the primary purpose determines how the ingredient should be characterized on the label. However, the lawsuit argued that regardless of intent, the functional effect of these ingredients is preservation, making the “0 Preservatives” claim misleading to a reasonable consumer. The case, filed as Case No. 3:23-cv-5444-JD in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California before Judge James Donato, settled rather than going to trial. This means there was no judicial finding that ZOA actually violated any laws. The settlement is a negotiated resolution, which is typical in consumer class actions where both sides face significant litigation risk.
The Final Approval Hearing and What It Means for Your Payment
The final approval hearing is scheduled for March 26, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in Courtroom 11 of the San Francisco Courthouse. At this hearing, Judge Donato will review whether the settlement is fair, reasonable, and adequate for the class. He will also consider any objections filed by class members — though the objection deadline of February 13, 2026 has already passed — and rule on attorney fee requests. If the judge grants final approval and no appeals are filed, payments are expected to be issued within 90 days, putting the estimated distribution around July 2026.
However, if a class member or another party files an appeal, that timeline stretches significantly. Appeals in class action settlements can add anywhere from several months to over a year before payments go out. For context, many food labeling settlements proceed without appeal, but the involvement of a high-profile brand like ZOA — co-founded by one of the most recognizable celebrities in the world — could attract more scrutiny than a typical case. Class members who filed valid claims do not need to take any additional action at this stage. The settlement administrator will process and mail payments or issue them electronically based on the information provided in the claim form. If you moved since filing, updating your address with the settlement administrator through www.ZOASettlement.com is the one step worth taking.
Comparing the No-Receipt and Receipt-Based Claim Options
The gap between the two claim tiers is significant enough to warrant attention for future class action settlements, even though the ZOA filing deadline has passed. Filing without proof of purchase — up to $10 — is the low-friction option that requires only basic information about your purchase history. Filing with receipts — up to $150 at $1 per can — demands actual documentation but offers fifteen times the maximum payout. The tradeoff is clear, but the practical reality is that almost nobody keeps energy drink receipts for years. A $2.50 gas station transaction from 2022 is not sitting in most people’s filing cabinets.
Some claimants may have pulled purchase records from credit card or bank statements, loyalty program data, or online order histories from retailers like Amazon or Walmart. This is a useful lesson for anyone who regularly buys products from brands facing class action scrutiny: digital purchase records from banking apps and retailer accounts are far easier to retrieve than paper receipts. One important limitation: the settlement caps benefits at the household level, not the individual level. If three roommates all bought ZOA, only one claim of up to $150 can be filed per household address. This household cap is common in consumer class actions and is designed to prevent duplicate claims, but it can feel punitive for multi-person households where everyone independently purchased the product.
How Attorney Fees and Claim Volume Affect Your Actual Payout
The roughly $1 million earmarked for attorney fees and administrative costs is not unusual — courts regularly approve fee awards in the range of 25% to 33% of a class action settlement fund. But it does mean that only about $2 million is available for class member payments. If 200,000 households file no-receipt claims at $10 each, that alone would total $2 million, meaning everyone receives their full amount. If 400,000 file, payments get cut in half to $5 per household. The actual claim rate in consumer class action settlements is notoriously low — often in the single digits as a percentage of eligible purchasers.
ZOA Energy drinks are sold nationally, so the eligible class potentially includes millions of households. A low claim rate is actually favorable for those who did file, because fewer claimants means a larger share of the fund for each person. A high-profile settlement involving The Rock’s brand may have attracted more attention than a typical food labeling case, which could push claim rates higher and individual payments lower. There is no way to know your exact payment amount until after final approval and claims processing. Be cautious of any third-party site or service claiming to tell you your precise payout or offering to “expedite” your settlement check. The only legitimate source for settlement information is the official site at www.ZOASettlement.com and communications from the court-appointed settlement administrator.
The Broader Pattern of “0 Preservatives” and Clean Label Lawsuits
The ZOA case fits into a growing wave of litigation targeting “clean label” marketing claims in the food and beverage industry. Brands across the sector have been challenged for claims like “all natural,” “no artificial ingredients,” and “0 preservatives” when their ingredient lists tell a more complicated story. The argument in many of these cases is similar — a multi-functional ingredient is characterized by the manufacturer in its most favorable light while its less marketable function goes unmentioned.
For consumers, this settlement is a reminder that label claims deserve a critical read. If a product boasts “0 Preservatives” but has a shelf life of 18 months or more, the chemistry keeping it stable is coming from somewhere. Checking the ingredient list for citric acid, ascorbic acid, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, and similar compounds gives a more honest picture than the front-of-can marketing.
What Happens After the Settlement Is Finalized
Assuming final approval is granted on March 26, 2026, the immediate next step is claims verification and payment processing. The settlement administrator will review submitted claims, flag any duplicates or suspicious filings, and calculate pro rata distributions based on total valid claims against the available fund. Payments are expected by approximately July 2026 if no appeals intervene.
Looking ahead, this settlement does not require ZOA Energy to change its labeling, as the company denied wrongdoing and the case resolved without a finding of liability. However, the reputational pressure and financial cost of the litigation may prompt ZOA and similar brands to be more careful with preservative-related claims. Several other energy drink and beverage companies are likely watching this outcome to assess their own labeling exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still file a claim for the ZOA Energy settlement?
No. The claim deadline was February 20, 2026, and it has already passed. Late claims are generally not accepted unless the court orders otherwise, which is rare.
How much will I actually receive from the ZOA settlement?
It depends on how many valid claims were filed. The maximum is $10 without receipts or $150 with receipts, but if total claims exceed the available fund (approximately $2 million after fees), payments will be reduced proportionally.
When will ZOA settlement payments be sent out?
Payments are expected within 90 days after final court approval. The final approval hearing is set for March 26, 2026, so payments could arrive around July 2026 if no appeals are filed.
Which ZOA products are covered by the settlement?
Any ZOA Energy drink that carried the “0 Preservatives” label and was purchased for personal consumption (not resale) between March 1, 2021 and November 21, 2025.
Does ZOA Energy have to change its labels because of this settlement?
The settlement does not include a requirement for ZOA to change its labeling. ZOA denied wrongdoing and maintained its labeling was lawful. Any future labeling changes would be a business decision, not a court mandate.
Where can I check the status of my claim?
Visit the official settlement website at www.ZOASettlement.com for updates on claim status, payment timelines, and final approval developments.