Quick Answer: A class action lawsuit filed October 9, 2026 alleges Dunkin’ Zero energy drinks are falsely labeled as containing “0g of sugar” and “zero sugar,” when each drink actually contains 8 to 13 grams of allulose — an ingredient federal labeling rules classify as a sugar. The suit was filed against Dunkin’ Brands and Inspire Brands. No settlement has been reached and no claim form is available yet.
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Key Takeaways
- Dunkin’ Zero energy drinks are marketed as “zero sugar” and “0g of sugar,” but the lawsuit says they contain 8 to 13 grams of allulose per drink
- Allulose is a sweetener that federal rules require to be included in total sugar declarations on nutrition labels
- The lawsuit covers 10 named Dunkin’ Zero drink flavors sold at approximately 10,000 Dunkin’ locations nationwide
- Case: Wells v. Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. et al. (No. 1:26-cv-14463), filed September 30, 2026
- No settlement has been reached; no claim form exists at this time
What the Dunkin’ Zero Lawsuit Alleges
Dunkin’ launched a line of energy drinks called Dunkin’ Zero, marketed specifically around being sugar-free. The drinks carry “0g of Sugar” and “zero sugar” claims on their packaging and in promotions. For health-conscious consumers or those managing sugar intake, those labels carry real weight.
A class action lawsuit filed against Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. and Inspire Brands, Inc. alleges those labels are false.
The case, Wells v. Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. et al. (No. 1:26-cv-14463), was filed September 30, 2026. The complaint says each Dunkin’ Zero drink is sweetened with allulose, a bulk sweetener, in quantities of 8 to 10 grams in a medium and 11 to 13 grams in a large. According to the lawsuit, federal labeling rules require allulose to be counted as a sugar on the nutrition label, which means the “0g of Sugar” claim is inaccurate.
What Is Allulose?
Allulose is a naturally occurring sweetener found in small amounts in some fruits and foods like figs and maple syrup. It tastes about 70% as sweet as regular table sugar (sucrose) and is used in gram-scale quantities as a bulk sweetener in beverages and food products.
Unlike regular sugar, allulose is largely not metabolized by the body, so it contributes negligible calories and does not raise blood sugar the way sucrose does. That is why the food industry has used it as a sugar substitute, particularly in beverages and baked goods marketed to health-conscious consumers.
The labeling dispute comes from a 2016 FDA rulemaking. At that time, the FDA said allulose must be declared in the total sugar count on a nutrition label, because its chemical structure classifies it as a sugar, even though its caloric and glycemic effects are different from those of sucrose. The lawsuit argues that including 8 to 13 grams of allulose while displaying “0g of Sugar” on the label violates that rule.
To make a legal “zero sugar” claim, a product must contain less than 0.5 grams of sugars per serving. The complaint says Dunkin’ Zero drinks exceed that threshold by a wide margin.
Which Dunkin’ Zero Drinks Are Named in the Lawsuit?
The complaint specifically names ten Dunkin’ Zero energy drink flavors:
- Blackberry Tangerine
- Tropical Mango
- Juicy Peach
- Glamberry
- Sunzest
- Blushpop
- Watermelon Lime
- Splashberry
- Heatwave
- Melon Paradise
These drinks are sold at approximately 10,000 Dunkin’ locations across the United States.
What Laws Are Cited in the Lawsuit?
The complaint cites the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts and practices in commerce. The law allows for class actions and provides for actual damages and attorney’s fees.
The complaint also cites the FDA’s 2016 labeling rulemaking on allulose and a Seventh Circuit court decision in a separate case that treated allulose as a sugar for purposes of a “sugar free” labeling claim.
Who Is the Proposed Class?
The lawsuit proposes a class of:
All U.S. individuals who purchased one or more Dunkin’ Zero energy drinks at a Dunkin’ restaurant for personal, family, or household use, from March 4, 2026 until the date a class is certified.
The class is currently limited to domestic purchasers. If you bought any of the named Dunkin’ Zero drinks for personal use since March 4, 2026, you may fall within the proposed class.
Is There a Settlement? Can I File a Claim?
No settlement has been announced. The case was filed in late September 2026 and is at its earliest stage. No claim form exists, and no settlement website has been set up.
What you can do now:
- Keep any receipts, credit card statements, or loyalty app records showing purchases of Dunkin’ Zero energy drinks
- Note which flavors you bought and approximately when
- Check back on this page, we will post updates when a settlement is reached or a claim form becomes available
Why Allulose Labeling Lawsuits Are on the Rise
The Dunkin’ suit is part of a pattern of litigation targeting food and beverage companies that use allulose as a sweetener while claiming their products are sugar-free. The lawsuits are built on a straightforward regulatory argument: the FDA said allulose counts as sugar for labeling purposes, so “0g of Sugar” is a false claim if the product contains meaningful quantities of it.
Previous cases have targeted other brands using similar “sugar free” claims with allulose in the ingredient list. The Seventh Circuit’s decision in a prior case, which the Dunkin’ complaint cites, found that allulose can be treated as a sugar for the purpose of evaluating deceptive-labeling claims.
For consumers who rely on “zero sugar” labels to manage diabetes, weight, or dietary restrictions, these lawsuits raise a valid practical question: if the product contains a substance chemically classified as a sugar, even one that behaves differently in the body, should the label say so?
Common Questions About the Dunkin’ Zero Lawsuit
If allulose doesn’t raise blood sugar, why does it matter how it’s labeled?
From a health standpoint, allulose’s metabolic profile is genuinely different from table sugar — it does not spike blood glucose the way sucrose does, and it contributes minimal calories. But the lawsuit’s argument is a legal one, not a medical one: FDA rules require allulose to be counted as sugar on the label, and calling a product “0g of Sugar” when it contains 8 to 13 grams of allulose violates those rules. Consumers have a right to accurate labels under federal and state consumer protection law, regardless of the ingredient’s metabolic effects.
Does this mean Dunkin’ Zero drinks will hurt my blood sugar?
The lawsuit does not make that claim. Allulose’s effect on blood sugar is generally minimal compared to sucrose. If you are managing diabetes or a blood sugar condition, consult your doctor or dietitian about how allulose affects you specifically. The lawsuit focuses on misleading labeling, not on a health harm claim.
Are other “zero sugar” drinks using allulose in the same way?
Yes. Allulose has become common in beverages and foods marketed as sugar-free or low-calorie. If you see allulose in the ingredient list of any product labeled “zero sugar” or “0g of sugar,” that product may face similar regulatory scrutiny. Check the FDA’s guidance on allulose labeling for more information.
Who are Dunkin’ Brands and Inspire Brands?
Dunkin’ Brands, Inc. is the corporate parent of Dunkin’ restaurants. Inspire Brands, Inc. is the parent company that acquired Dunkin’ Brands in 2020. Both entities are named as defendants in the lawsuit.
What is the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act?
It is an Illinois state consumer protection law that prohibits deceptive or unfair practices in the conduct of commerce. It allows private individuals to sue for actual damages and provides for class actions and attorney’s fees. The law has been used in numerous food and beverage labeling cases because it provides a straightforward mechanism to challenge misleading claims.
Could Dunkin’ change the label and make this lawsuit go away?
A label change could reduce future liability but would not resolve past claims for consumers who already purchased the drinks during the class period. Typically in these cases, the lawsuit covers purchases made before the defendant corrects the alleged violation, even if the label is later updated.
Summary
The Dunkin’ Zero sugar lawsuit targets a labeling practice that has become common in the food and beverage industry: using allulose as a bulk sweetener while calling the product “zero sugar.” Whether you bought these drinks for health reasons, to manage sugar intake, or simply because the “0g of Sugar” label caught your eye, you may be part of the proposed class.
No settlement exists yet, and no claim form is available. Keep your purchase records and return to this page for updates.
This page will be updated when a settlement is announced or claim information becomes available.
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