A&W settles for $15M over misleading ad claims: Deadline to file for compensation
A&W Concentrate and its parent company, Keurig Dr. Pepper, have reached a $15 million settlement to resolve claims that they made misleading marketing statements regarding the type of vanilla used in their root beer and cream soda. A lawsuit filed in 2019 alleged that A&W advertised their drinks as being made with aged vanilla when they actually contained artificial vanilla called ethyl vanillin.
The settlement is aimed at avoiding further expenses in a legal battle. Both A&W Concentrate and Keurig Dr. Pepper maintain that their advertising was truthful, accurate, and compliant with FDA requirements.
If you purchased certain A&W products between Feb. 7, 2016, and June 2, 2023, you may be eligible to submit a claim. The products that qualify for the settlement include various flavors of A&W root beer and cream soda.
The settlement offers three tiers of compensation depending on whether you have proof of purchase:
- Tier 1: Claims without proof of purchase will receive $5.50 per household
- Tier 2: Claims with and without proof of purchase will receive a minimum of $5.50, with an additional 50 cents per unit that has valid proof of purchase. Up to 39 units can be claimed, resulting in a payment of up to $25.
- Tier 3: Claims supported by proof of purchase will receive a minimum of $5.50, with an additional 50 cents for every unit submitted beyond 11 units. Up to 50 units can be claimed, resulting in a payment of up to $25.
To file a claim, you can submit a form online or print out a form and mail it to the provided address. Claims must be submitted or postmarked by Oct. 18, 2023. The final approval hearing is scheduled for Oct. 19, 2023, and payments will be issued after that, barring any delays caused by appeals.
Source: A&W Settles for $15M Over Misleading Ad Claims: Days Left to File for Your Money – CNET
