Humm Kombucha Faced Deceptive Labeling Lawsuit

A federal lawsuit claims the Oregon company falsely marketed its probiotic beverages as zero sugar.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Organic Food

Screen-print poster illustration of a single glass bottle on a wooden surface, rendered in a vintage, textured graphic style. — A federal lawsuit in Oregon alleges that Bend-based Humm Kombucha misled consumers by labeling probiotic drinks as zero sugar despite containing allulose. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Humm Kombucha has been sued in federal court for allegedly marketing its beverages as zero sugar despite containing allulose. The plaintiff claims the manufacturer uses these labels to justify a premium price for the product.

Why it matters

The case highlights growing legal scrutiny over how food manufacturers categorize sweeteners, specifically following judicial rulings that classify allulose as a sugar. Consumers often pay more for products marketed as sugar-free, making the accuracy of these labels a significant issue.

The lawsuit alleges each 12-ounce can contains 10 grams of allulose, significantly exceeding the 0.5-gram limit required for zero-sugar claims under federal regulations. Damages across the class action are estimated to exceed $5 million.

The players

Humm Kombucha

Founded in 2008 in Bend, the company produces probiotic beverages sold nationally.

The details

The complaint alleges that Bend-based Humm Kombucha includes misleading ZERO SUGAR and 0 GRAMS SUGAR labels on packaging for drinks containing roughly 10 grams of allulose. The lawsuit claims this practice enables the company to charge premium prices to health-conscious shoppers who rely on front-of-pack claims.

Humm Kombucha was founded in Bend in 2008.
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that allulose constitutes a sugar in July 2026.
A plaintiff purchased a Humm Probiotic Kombucha beverage in August 2026.
The lawsuit against the manufacturer was reported on October 6, 2026.

Culture Shift

The lawsuit mirrors a broader trend of litigation against manufacturers using allulose, following a July 2026 appellate ruling that classified the ingredient as a sugar. This represents a significant pushback against food marketing tactics that rely on technical definitions of sugar content.

Shoppers should be aware that products labeled as zero sugar may still contain significant amounts of allulose, which is now legally classified as a sugar. Those monitoring their sugar intake for health reasons may need to look past front-of-package marketing to verify ingredient lists.

The takeaway

When choosing probiotic beverages, always consult the full nutrition facts panel rather than relying solely on front-of-package claims. Checking for specific sweeteners like allulose can help ensure your purchases align with your dietary goals.