Two Landmark Disputes
POM Wonderful features in two separate and significant cases. In one, the Federal Trade Commission challenged advertising claiming the juice treated or prevented heart disease, prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction, on the basis that disease claims require rigorous scientific substantiation.
In the other, POM sued a competitor over a juice labelled as a pomegranate blueberry blend that contained only trace amounts of those juices, with the rest largely apple and grape.
Disease claims require the highest substantiation
General wellness language is treated far more permissively than a claim that a product treats or prevents a specific disease. Once marketing crosses into disease claims, the substantiation expected approaches clinical trial evidence.
What Each Case Established
The regulatory action confirmed that disease claims demand competent and reliable scientific evidence, and that selectively citing favourable studies while omitting unfavourable ones does not meet that standard.
The competitor case established something structurally important: compliance with federal food labelling rules does not immunise a company from a competitor false advertising claim under the Lanham Act. The Supreme Court held the two regimes complement rather than displace each other.
That matters because it means a label can satisfy the regulator and still be actionable, which is a route consumers themselves do not have but competitors do.
What This Means for Shoppers
Percentage composition is the useful check on juice blends and similar products. A name listing premium fruits tells you nothing about proportion, whereas the ingredient list in descending order of weight does.
Health claims on food should be read for specificity. Supports wellness is marketing language. Reduces the risk of a named disease is a claim requiring substantiation, and its presence or absence tells you what the manufacturer is prepared to stand behind.
A product name is not a composition statement
Naming premium ingredients does not indicate how much is present. A blend named for pomegranate and blueberry may be overwhelmingly apple and grape juice. The ingredient list, in descending weight order, is the reliable guide.
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POM Wonderful: Health Claims, Regulators and Competitor Lawsuits: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about this case and your legal options.
What did the FTC case concern?
Advertising claiming the juice treated or prevented heart disease, prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction without the rigorous substantiation disease claims require.
What did the competitor case establish?
That compliance with federal food labelling rules does not shield a company from a competitor false advertising claim under the Lanham Act.
What substantiation do health claims need?
Disease claims require competent and reliable scientific evidence. Selectively citing favourable studies while omitting others does not satisfy that standard.
Can consumers bring Lanham Act claims?
No. That route is available to competitors. Consumers rely on state consumer protection statutes instead.
How do I check what is actually in a juice blend?
Read the ingredient list, which is in descending order of weight. The product name tells you nothing about proportions.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case status, eligibility criteria, and any amounts described are as reported at the date shown and may change. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your own situation.