Judge in Connecticut Refuses to Dismiss Litigation Accusing "Poland Spring" of Misleading Advertising Regarding Bottled Water
Poland Spring water, a brand renowned for its 100% spring water labeling, is currently embroiled in a series of legal disputes. The crux of the lawsuits, which have been ongoing since 2017, centers on allegations that the water does not originate from a natural spring, despite being marketed as such.
Despite Poland Spring meeting the FDA's regulatory definitions of spring water, it faces legal challenges arguing it does not qualify as spring water under laws in several U.S. states. These states include Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. In August 2025, a federal judge in Connecticut ruled that it remains an open question if Poland Spring meets those states' legal standards for spring water, despite compliance with FDA regulations and state authorizations.
The brand, formerly owned by Nestlé Waters North America, was sold to private equity firms in 2021 and now operates under Primo Brands. The cases argue that the company falsely marketed the product, despite FDA definitions that Poland Spring technically meets. The FDA guidelines define "spring water" as water that flows to the surface naturally from an underground formation, but do not guarantee consumer protections against alleged mislabeling.
Additional class-action lawsuits against Poland Spring (and related brands under BlueTriton Brands) also accuse the company of labeling water as "100% Natural Spring Water" while containing contaminants such as phthalates and microplastics, further challenging the brand's marketing claims.
Nestlé Waters North America has actively challenged class certification in these lawsuits, attempting to prevent broad legal actions, and disputes over billions of dollars in damages have been raised. The legal debates weigh FDA compliance against consumer protection laws in individual states and hinge on the precise source and composition of the water marketed as spring water.
U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Alker Meyer has rejected several claims in a class-action lawsuit alleging that Poland Spring bottled water is deceptively labeled. Meyer's ruling indicates that it is not yet clear whether Poland Spring water qualifies as "spring water" under the laws of the states involved in the claim.
The lawsuit accuses Nestle of deceptive labeling and breaching customers' trust for profit. Judge Meyer contested the plaintiffs' assertion that they have no choice but to purchase Poland Spring Water, stating that consumers consider spring water to be more valuable than other water and that the plaintiffs have reasonably quantified the difference in value. However, Meyer did not grant an injunction against the sale of Poland Spring-branded water.
The current owner, Primo Brands, inherited these disputes after acquiring the brand. The litigation focuses on alleged false advertising and consumer harm related to Poland Spring’s claims of being natural spring water. As the legal battles continue, the situation serves as an illustration of the complex interplay between federal water source definitions, state laws, and consumer protection regarding bottled water labeling.
- The class-action lawsuits against Poland Spring water, under the ownership of Primo Brands, also accuse the brand of misleading consumers by labeling the product as '100% Natural Spring Water' while allegedly containing contaminants such as phthalates and microplastics.
- The ongoing legal debates between Poland Spring (and related brands) and consumers revolve around questions of 'finance' and 'lifestyle', with consumers arguing for stricter 'business' practices regarding the labeling of 'food-and-drink' products, specifically bottled water.
