Halfday understated its iced teas' sugar content, new class action lawsuit alleges

New York resident Robert Kluge filed a class action lawsuit against Halfday Tonics in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York alleging its prebiotic iced teas contain far more sugar than their labels claim.

Kluge says he purchased a Halfday variety pack through Amazon in May 2024 for $35.99, relying on the products' claims that they contain 3 grams of sugar claim. He claims he would not have bought the products, or would have paid less, had he known the real sugar content.

What testing allegedly found

Halfday's raspberry iced tea has a bright green 3 grams of sugar callout on the front of the can and lists total sugars of 3 grams on in its nutrition facts panel, the proposed class action claims. However, independent lab testing discovered the tea actually contains about 9.69 grams per can, which is more than three times the labeled amount, according to the complaint.

The lab only tested the raspberry flavor, but the lawsuit alleges Halfday's seven other flavors have similar gaps between the advertised and actual sugar content. The named teas include raspberry, peach, green, lemon, tropical and sweet plus the classic and watermelon half and half blends.

The proposed class action claims that because the nutrition facts panel contains false information, it is more damaging than ordinary marketing, especially for people managing diabetes or blood sugar.

The legal claims

The complaint brings eight claims against Halfday:

  • Fraud and fraudulent concealment, alleging Halfday knew or recklessly ignored that its sugar figures were false
  • Negligent misrepresentation, claiming the company should have caught the error before printing the labels
  • New York consumer protection under General Business Law sections 349 and 350, barring deceptive practices and false advertising
  • Breach of warranty, stating the promise of 3 grams of sugar and the products' basic sellability both failed when the cans contained more sugar than stated
  • Unjust enrichment, contending Halfday should not keep money earned from the alleged mislabeling.

The class action seeks more than $5 million in refunds, the profits Halfday made and triple damages under New York law,plus an order mandating accurate sugar labels. Kluge wants a jury trial.

What the Halfday lawsuit means for shoppers

The lawsuit proposes two classes: New York residents and a nationwide class, covering purchases in the four years before the July 2026 filing.

There is currently no settlement, claims process or payout, and Halfday has not responded to the suit.