U.S. high court agrees to hear Coca-Cola labeling dispute

By Lawrence Hurley

Jan 10 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday agreed to weigh in on a dispute between POM Wonderful LLC and Coca-Cola Co. over Coke's labeling of a product marketed as pomegranate blueberry juice.

POM Wonderful has accused Coke of falsely labeling and advertising the juice product, saying the beverage giant misled consumers into believing the drink, marketed under the Minute Maid brand, consisted primarily of pomegranate and blueberry juices.

POM, which produces its own pomegranate-based juice products, says the drink contained mainly apple and grape juices.

The court said in a brief order issued on Friday that two justices, Stephen Breyer and Samuel Alito, will not participate in the case.

A lower court ruled in favor of Coca-Cola. In May 2012, the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that POM may have standing to pursue some state law claims against Coca-Cola.

See more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/10/usa-court-labeling-idUSL1N0CE7L120140110