Kombucha Tea Maker Sued in California Federal Court

LOS ANGELES - A California woman has sued a kombucha tea distributor in federal court, alleging that it misrepresented the newly-popular beverage's health benefits while concealing its possible health risks. Patch v. Millennium Products Inc., No. 10-7244 (C.D. Calif.)

The suit, filed Sept. 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, says Millennium Products Inc. has been touting its GT's Organic Raw Kombucha and Synergy as a health-promoting elixir, when in fact the beverage has not been proven to have any health benefits.

"In fact, serious side effects and occasional deaths have been associated with …