Fairlife, Coca-Cola Sued Over Alleged Animal Cruelty and Greenwashing

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit alleges Fairlife and Coca-Cola misled consumers by falsely advertising their milk products as environmentally sustainable and ethically sourced, despite claims of animal cruelty and harmful environmental practices at supplying farms.

Consumers Affected: California consumers who purchased Fairlife products since February 2021.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division

Coca-Cola and its dairy brand Fairlife are facing a proposed class action lawsuit over allegations that their marketing misled consumers into paying a premium for milk products falsely advertised as environmentally sustainable and ethically sourced. 

The complaint, filed in California, claims Fairlife has built its multibillion-dollar brand on promises of superior animal care and eco-conscious practices, but plaintiffs say these promises are deceptive at best and flat-out false at worst.

The lawsuit centers on Fairlife’s widespread claims that its milk comes from farms with “zero tolerance” for cruelty, high animal welfare standards, and best-in-class sustainability efforts. 

Those assurances, the lawsuit says, are contradicted by undercover investigations revealing systemic abuse at Fairlife’s supplying farms, and by environmental practices that, according to the complaint, may actually harm rather than help the planet.

Fairlife Milk Accused of Misleading Animal Welfare Claims

Three California residents—Aryout Michael Thomas Bhotiwihok, Jeremiah Cornelius, and Randy Paugh—say they bought Fairlife products under the impression that they were supporting humane animal treatment and eco-friendly production. 

All relied on Fairlife’s labeling, website claims, and branding, including the “recycle me” packaging and imagery of happy calves.

Bhotiwihok said he purchased Fairlife for himself and his children for years, believing the company’s sustainability and animal welfare messaging. Cornelius said he chose the brand specifically to avoid milk from operations that harm animals and the environment. Paugh continued buying Fairlife’s Core Power line after reviewing the company’s website and marketing, only to later learn about the allegations of mistreatment. 

All three claim they were misled into paying higher prices based on false representations.

Undercover Investigations Allegedly Reveal Systemic Animal Abuse

Undercover footage collected by the Animal Recovery Mission in 2019, 2023, and most recently in 2024 paints a disturbing picture of what plaintiffs describe as widespread cruelty. The investigations allegedly show cows being beaten, neglected, denied veterinary care, and left to die in unsanitary conditions. In some cases, animals were reportedly dragged by tractors, improperly euthanized, or left without access to food or water.

In terms of environmental sustainability, the lawsuit says Fairlife’s claims about its recyclable plastic bottles are untrue. Despite the packaging’s messaging and industry-standard recycling symbols, the suit alleges Fairlife bottles are made from pigmented plastic that cannot actually be recycled and contaminates the waste stream. 

It also points to water pollution, algae blooms, and manure management practices tied to the brand’s methane digesters as evidence of greenwashing.

Meat and Dairy Industries Face Increasing Legal Pushback

Fairlife’s legal troubles come amid a growing wave of scrutiny targeting the meat and dairy industries over what advocates call “humanewashing”—the practice of misleading consumers with feel-good claims about animal treatment and sustainability. 

In North Carolina, an animal rights group is petitioning the state Supreme Court to revive a dismissed lawsuit against Case Farms, a poultry company accused of systemic cruelty toward baby chickens. 

In Minnesota, a case against Holden Farms brought by the Animal Legal Defense Fund cited undercover footage showing mother pigs being fed a slurry of dead piglets — a practice the group claims violates state law. 

Tyson Foods, the country’s largest chicken producer, is facing lawsuits and federal complaints alleging deceptive advertising about its animal welfare standards. Meanwhile, ag-gag laws meant to block undercover farm investigations have come under fire nationwide, with North Carolina recently agreeing to pay $885,000 in legal fees after losing a yearslong battle over its law’s constitutionality.

In this latest lawsuit, the three plaintiffs want to represent anyone in California who purchased Fairlife products since February 2021. They are suing for violations of a range of state laws and are seeking injunctive relief to stop the farming practices, damages, interest, costs, and fees.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Bhotiwihok, et al v. Fairlife, LLC, et al.
• Case Number: 2:25-cv-01650 
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Western Division

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Cheryl L. Leahy, Donald R. Pepperman, Brian E. Klein, and Sam S. Meehan (Law Office Of Cheryl Leahy) 

Do you purchase Fairlife milk products? Share your thoughts on these allegations and animal welfare claims below.