Dunkin’ class-action – An Illinois woman is suing Dunkin’ in federal court, alleging that beverages marketed as ‘zero sugar’ contain allulose, a molecular form of sugar.
When Phyllis Wells drove up to her local Chicago Dunkin’ location. she believed the ‘zero sugar’ labeling on the energy drinks she bought two to three times a week. She viewed those drinks as a way to maintain a strict sugar-free diet. That belief ended when she discovered the ingredients list included allulose.
On Sept. 30, Wells filed a proposed class-action lawsuit against Dunkin’ in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. She represents herself and hundreds of thousands of other consumers who purchased the drinks since they were introduced on March 4. The lawsuit argues that Dunkin’ engaged in fraudulent marketing by promoting the products as sugar-free when. at a molecular level. the primary sweetening agent is a sugar.
The drinks are sold at approximately 10,000 locations across the United States. While Dunkin’ lists these beverages as having zero grams of sugar and zero added sugars. the packaging reveals the total carbohydrate count ranges between 6 and 12 grams. Following water, allulose is the second ingredient listed on the labels.
Allulose. a naturally occurring substance found in items like figs. raisins. wheat. maple syrup. and molasses. occupies a unique regulatory space. Because the body passes it through the system without metabolizing it for energy. the Food and Drug Administration exempts it from being counted under ‘Total Sugars’ or ‘Added Sugars.’ However. because it is a sugar at the molecular level. federal law still requires it to be listed under ‘Total Carbohydrates.’.
For consumers like Wells, the technical distinction between FDA-exempted sugar and traditional sugar is a matter of health and principle. While the Cleveland Clinic notes that allulose does not spike blood-sugar levels—making it a common choice for those on specialized diets or managing diabetes—it also emphasizes that further research is required to fully understand potential health risks. For many. the choice to avoid sugar is deliberate; a 2022 survey found that 73% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 80 actively try to limit or avoid sugar. creating a market where companies can often command higher prices for products labeled as ‘zero-sugar.’.
Wells contends that she never would have purchased the drinks had she known the contents. and she is seeking damages and a trial by jury. Her filing arrives as the company faces broader scrutiny regarding its beverage ingredients. including recent public criticism from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. regarding the sugar content of their menu offerings. Dunkin’ has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the litigation.
Dunkin class action lawsuit allulose zero sugar Phyllis Wells US District Court