People in Washington and Illinois who bought Celsius energy drinks or powder sticks since late October 2022 may be covered by two proposed class actions alleging Celsius’s “Burns Body Fat” and “Accelerates Metabolism” labels rest on short-term studies the company paid for. No class has been certified and there is nothing to claim.
Allegations Only · No Settlement Yet
This article describes two class action complaints. The statements below are unproven allegations. Celsius Holdings, Inc. and Celsius, Inc. have not been found liable, there is no certified class, and nothing to claim at this time. This page is informational and is not legal advice.
What Is This About?
Two proposed class actions filed two days apart accuse Celsius Holdings, Inc. and Celsius, Inc. of “healthwashing” its energy drinks:- Nielsen v. Celsius Holdings, Inc., No. 2:26-cv-04113, filed October 26, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle and assigned to Judge Tana Lin; and
- Valente v. Celsius, Inc., No. 1:26-cv-13271, filed October 28, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago and assigned to Judge Mary M. Rowland.
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Front of the Can vs. Back of the Can
The complaints set the front-label claims against the fine print. According to the Illinois complaint, the back of the cans and packets says Celsius “helps maintain the bodies’ regular metabolic function” and that “CELSIUS alone does not produce weight loss in the absence of a healthy diet and moderate exercise.” The suit argues that this text, at the very bottom of the back panel, contradicts the unqualified “accelerates metabolism” and “burns body fat” on the front.The back label also says the drinks are “Proven in 6 Published University Studies” and that drinking Celsius before fitness activities “is proven to energize, accelerate metabolism, burn body fat and calories.” The complaint also cites statements by CEO John Fieldly describing “clinically proven fat-burning and metabolism acceleration” and the brand’s “thermogenic” positioning.
The Six Studies
The core of both cases is the research Celsius cites. The complaints allege that Celsius solicited and paid for all six studies, a fact they say is not disclosed on the label. The Illinois complaint adds that all but one of the studies share common authors and that the sixth was conducted by a business that no longer exists.The suits also allege the studies measured short-term markers, such as resting energy expenditure, over a matter of hours rather than fat loss over weeks. They argue that a temporary rise in calories burned is not the same as making someone leaner, and point to independent reviews, including a 2012 review of green tea weight-loss studies, that found little or no meaningful effect. Caffeine itself modestly raises energy use, and Celsius drinks contain about 200 to 270 milligrams of it per serving.
What Celsius Says
Celsius disputes the claims. In a statement reported October 29, a company spokesperson said Celsius stands “firmly behind our peer-reviewed clinical studies and product claims, which have previously been approved by the Better Business Bureau’s National Advertising Division,” and that its products “are clearly labeled as they have been for many years and go above and beyond FDA requirements.” Celsius has not yet responded to the complaints in court.Which Drinks Are Named?
The Illinois complaint lists 19 products and says the list is a minimum:- Essential Energy Sparkling: Galaxy Vibe, Astro Vibe, Arctic Vibe, Tropical Vibe, Peach Vibe, Raspberry Peach, Wild Berry, Watermelon, Grape Rush, Orange, Strawberry Lemonade, Fuji Apple Pear, Blue Razz Lemonade and Kiwi Strawberry
- Other drinks: Raspberry Acai Green Tea and Fizz Free Pink Lemonade
- On-the-Go powder sticks: Strawberry Coconut, Blueberry Lemonade and Cranberry Lemon
Who Is in the Proposed Classes?
Washington (Nielsen): Washington consumers who bought the products on or after October 26, 2022. The plaintiff says she bought Celsius at Amazon, Target, Costco, 7-Eleven and Fred Meyer between December 2024 and September 2026. The case claims violations of the Washington Consumer Protection Act and fraudulent concealment, and seeks damages, restitution and a court order stopping the challenged marketing.Illinois (Valente): Everyone who bought the products in Illinois from October 27, 2022 through trial. The plaintiff says he bought Celsius about weekly from roughly November 2023 to August 2026 at grocery stores and gas stations. The case brings two counts under the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, one of them for making claims without adequate scientific support, plus fraudulent misrepresentation. It seeks damages, including punitive damages, restitution, disgorgement and an injunction.
Buyers in other states are not part of either proposed class as filed. That can change if the complaints are amended or more cases are filed.
Celsius’s Earlier Cases
This is not the first time Celsius labeling has been challenged. A $7.8 million settlement resolved claims that Celsius drinks were labeled “No Preservatives” even though they contained citric acid; Celsius denied wrongdoing, and the claim deadline passed in February 2023. That case is covered on OCA’s Celsius $7.8 million settlement page, and it is a separate matter from the 2026 lawsuits.In January 2024, a proposed class action in federal court in San Diego, Starks v. Celsius Holdings, Inc., No. 3:24-cv-00185, challenged Celsius’s fat-burning advertising and its chromium claims. The plaintiff voluntarily dismissed it in August 2024, before the court ruled on the advertising claims; Law Commentary reports the dismissal was with prejudice.
The 2026 consumer suits are also separate from a securities class action filed in September 2026 in federal court in Florida, Majkowski v. Celsius Holdings, Inc., which involves investors rather than drink buyers, and from a Texas Attorney General inquiry, begun in June 2026, into how Celsius labels and promotes its Alani Nu energy drinks. Celsius said it would work with Texas officials while disputing the state’s view of the drink. No finding of wrongdoing has been made in either matter.
What Happens Next?
As of October 30, 2026, the Nielsen docket showed the complaint, summonses issued October 27 and attorney appearances, and the Valente docket showed only the complaint. Celsius had not filed a response in either case, though it has publicly defended its studies and labels. It will be able to answer or move to dismiss, and each court would then decide whether the claims can go forward. OpenClassActions.com will update this page if there is a ruling or a settlement.Questions
What are the new Celsius lawsuits about?
Two proposed class actions filed in October 2026 allege Celsius labels its drinks “Accelerates Metabolism” and “Burns Body Fat” even though the six studies it cites were funded by Celsius and measured only temporary changes over a few hours, while a disclaimer on the back says Celsius alone does not produce weight loss without a healthy diet and moderate exercise. These are allegations; Celsius has not been found liable.
Which Celsius drinks are named in the lawsuits?
The Illinois complaint lists 19 products: the Essential Energy Sparkling Galaxy Vibe, Astro Vibe, Arctic Vibe, Tropical Vibe, Peach Vibe, Raspberry Peach, Wild Berry, Watermelon, Grape Rush, Orange, Strawberry Lemonade, Fuji Apple Pear, Blue Razz Lemonade and Kiwi Strawberry; Raspberry Acai Green Tea; Fizz Free Pink Lemonade; and the On-the-Go Strawberry Coconut, Blueberry Lemonade and Cranberry Lemon powder sticks. It says the list is a minimum.
Who is covered by the Celsius lawsuits?
The Washington case proposes a class of Washington consumers who bought the products on or after October 26, 2022. The Illinois case proposes a class of everyone who bought them in Illinois from October 27, 2022 through trial. Buyers in other states are not in either proposed class, and no class has been certified.
Has Celsius responded to the lawsuits?
Not in court yet. In a statement reported October 29, 2026, Celsius said it stands firmly behind its peer-reviewed clinical studies and product claims, which it said were previously approved by the Better Business Bureau’s National Advertising Division, and that its products are clearly labeled and go above and beyond FDA requirements.
Is this the same as the $7.8 million Celsius settlement?
No. The earlier $7.8 million settlement resolved claims that Celsius drinks were labeled “No Preservatives” despite containing citric acid, and its claim deadline passed in February 2023. The 2026 lawsuits are separate cases about fat-burning and metabolism claims.
Can I get money from the Celsius lawsuits?
Not now. There is no settlement, certified class or claim form. If either case settles or a class is certified, class members would be notified of any way to take part.
Sources
• Class Action Complaint — Valente v. Celsius, Inc., No. 1:26-cv-13271 (N.D. Ill., filed October 28, 2026): complaint (PDF)• Docket — Valente v. Celsius, Inc., No. 1:26-cv-13271 (N.D. Ill.), via CourtListener: CourtListener docket
• Docket — Nielsen v. Celsius Holdings, Inc., No. 2:26-cv-04113 (W.D. Wash.), via CourtListener: CourtListener docket
• Law Commentary, “Celsius Sued Over Claims Its Energy Drinks Burn Body Fat” (October 29, 2026): lawcommentary.com
• Docket — Starks v. Celsius Holdings, Inc., No. 3:24-cv-00185 (S.D. Cal.), via CourtListener: CourtListener docket
