A class-action lawsuit filed in federal court in Connecticut claims that Nestle Waters North America, the parent company of Poland Spring, has been perpetuating a colossal fraud against American consumers.
The suit alleges that, rather than containing 100 percent natural spring water, as the label says, Poland Spring products contain ordinary groundwater collected from wells.
“By mislabeling the product, Nestle is charging a premium for it that consumers — if they knew that the water is really no different than Nestle Pure Life, for example, which is a purified water — they wouldn’t pay more for the Poland Spring water,” says Alexander Schmidt, an attorney for the plaintiffs in the case.
Schmidt says they want Nestle to change the Poland Spring label. Monetary compensation and punitive damages are also being sought.
In a statement, a Nestle Waters spokesperson says the claims made in the lawsuit are without merit and are an obvious attempt to manipulate the legal system for personal gain. The company says Poland Spring is 100 percent spring water and meets all applicable federal and state standards and regulations.
This story was originally published Aug. 17, 2017 at 5:35 p.m. ET.
