Goli lawsuit: the Zero Sugar gummies claim and where it stands

What the Goli lawsuit claims

The suit is about Goli's "Zero Sugar" gummies. Plaintiff Alexander Mercado challenges three products, according to Top Class Actions:

• Goli Zero Sugar Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies
• Goli Zero Sugar Ashwagandha+ Gummies
• Goli Zero Sugar Pre+Post+Probiotics Gummies

The report says the complaint puts allulose at 2 grams per serving and argues that allulose is a sugar, so a "zero sugar" label misleads shoppers who lack the specialized knowledge to tell from an ingredient list.

Goli's own product pages for its Zero Sugar ACV+ and Ashwagandha+ gummies describe them as sweetened with stevia and free of artificial sweeteners and sugar alcohols. The page text does not mention allulose, and the ingredient panels there are images Owed could not read, so the allulose content is the plaintiff's allegation, not something Owed checked on a label. Goli has not been found liable.

Why allulose is the issue

Allulose is a sweetener that is chemically a monosaccharide, a single sugar unit like glucose or fructose. FDA's October 2020 guidance says the agency intends to use enforcement discretion so makers can leave allulose out of the Total Sugars and Added Sugars lines on the Nutrition Facts panel, but the guidance is nonbinding. A "zero sugar" claim on the front of a package is a separate rule: under 21 C.F.R. 101.60 it requires less than 0.5 grams of sugars per serving. About 2 grams of allulose would be well over that line if allulose counts as a sugar, which is the arithmetic behind these suits.

On Jul 27, 2026 the Seventh Circuit held in Franco v. Chobani that allulose is a sugar under the federal regulation and let a "sugar free" yogurt case go forward; at the court's request, FDA told it the regulation covers all monosaccharides, including allulose. That ruling binds federal courts only in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, so the California judge is not bound by it. For the wider picture, read is allulose a sugar and why zero sugar labels are being sued.

Who is in the proposed class

Law360 lists the case as a class action, but Owed could not read the complaint, so it cannot say how the class is defined. A proposed class in a case like this usually covers people who bought the product for personal use during a set period before the suit was filed. No class has been certified, so nobody is in or out yet and there is nothing to sign up for. If you bought the gummies, keep any receipts or order emails.

Where the case stands

The case is Mercado v. Goli Nutrition Inc., No. 2:26-cv-09807, in the Central District of California. A docket mirror, last updated Oct 15, 2026, shows Goli served on Sep 28, 2026. On Oct 15, 2026 a joint stipulation was filed moving Goli's deadline to answer from Oct 19 to Nov 18, 2026, and a defense lawyer was added. No answer or motion is listed yet. OpenClassActions lists a second "Zero Sugar" suit against Goli, Bruno v. Goli Nutrition, Inc., filed Sep 24, 2026 in the same court. Track the first case on Owed's Goli case page.

What could happen next

Companies sued over allulose labels often argue that FDA's guidance blocks the claims or that shoppers would not be misled. The Seventh Circuit rejected both arguments for Chobani's yogurt, but it did so on a motion to dismiss, which is not a finding of liability, and courts elsewhere are free to disagree. If the Goli case survives, the next fight is over class certification, covered in what happens after a class is certified.

A settlement could come at any stage, and class cases commonly take one to three years. Payouts in food and supplement labeling cases are usually small and often come with a label change; see how much no-proof settlements pay. Many cases end with no payout at all.

Do not confuse it with other Goli suits

"Goli lawsuit" can point to several cases. A New York suit by Michael Ring, reported in Nov 2025, challenges the serving size on Goli Dreamy Sleep melatonin gummies and is not about sugar. Owed found no Goli settlement with an open claim form. A brand you bought got sued explains what to do while a case is pending.

What to do now

You do not need to file anything, because no claim form exists. If one ever opens, filing directly with the settlement administrator is free. Ignore any site or message offering to claim a "Goli settlement" for a fee; our guide to spotting settlement scams covers the red flags.

Owed finds the settlements you qualify for, explains them in plain English, opens the official claim form, reminds you before deadlines and tracks your claim to payout. You submit the claim yourself on the official form. Owed Pro is $2 for the first week, then $49 per year — one flat membership. Owed never takes a percentage of any payout. Browse open settlements that do have claim forms, or follow this case. This is general information, not legal advice; the court decides what happens in the case.

Glossary

Allulose

A sweetener that is chemically a monosaccharide, like glucose and fructose. FDA says it intends to let makers leave it out of the Total Sugars and Added Sugars lines on the Nutrition Facts panel.

Enforcement discretion

An agency's choice not to enforce a rule in certain situations. It does not rewrite the rule itself.

Preemption

When federal law overrides state law. Defendants often argue federal food-labeling rules preempt state false-advertising claims.

Nutrient content claim

A label statement such as "zero sugar" that describes how much of a nutrient a food contains. Federal rules limit when it can be used.

Putative class action

A lawsuit filed as a class action before a judge has certified a class.

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