:Virgil's Root Beer
{{Short description|American brand of root beer}}
File:Virgil's Root Beer Logo.png
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}}Virgil's Root Beer is a brand of root beer that originated in the United States. The beverage was created in 1994 by Edward Crowley and Jill Fraser Crowley, owners of Crowley Beverage Company.
In 1999, Reed's Inc. purchased the Virgil's Root Beer brand from the Crowley Beverage Company.{{Cite web |date=11 October 2006 |title=2,000,000 Shares -- REED'S, INC. -- Common Stock |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1140215/000114420406042189/v053486_posam.htm |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |archive-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311064613/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1140215/000114420406042189/v053486_posam.htm |url-status=live }}
Flavors
Virgil's Root Beer contains a blend of spices that includes anise, licorice, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, wintergreen, cassia oil, pimento berry oil, and balsam oil.
In 1999, Virgil's started making vanilla cream, black cherry, orange, lemon-lime, and cola flavors. In 2018, the company made a zero-sugar product based on a sweetener blend containing erythritol, stevia, and monkfruit.{{Cite web |date=2018-03-26 |title=Virgil's Rebrand Marks Start of Reed's New Strategy |url=https://www.bevnet.com/news/2018/virgils-rebrand-marks-start-reeds-new-strategy |access-date=2022-10-13 |website=BevNET.com |language=en-US |archive-date=October 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221013140919/https://www.bevnet.com/news/2018/virgils-rebrand-marks-start-reeds-new-strategy |url-status=live }}
In popular culture
In 2014, the brewing and bottling process of Virgil's Root Beer was presented on season 3 episode 18 of the Biography Channel's Food Factory, titled "A Taste of Japan."{{Cite web |date=2 July 2014 |title=Biography Channel's 'Food Factory' to Feature Virgil's Root Beer |url=https://www.bevnet.com/news/2014/biography-channels-food-factory-to-feature-virgils-root-beer/ |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=BevNET |archive-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311064602/https://www.bevnet.com/news/2014/biography-channels-food-factory-to-feature-virgils-root-beer/ |url-status=live }}
Lawsuit
On November 19, 2018, a class action lawsuit was filed against Reed's Inc., doing business as Virgil's Soda, alleging that the soda brand falsely labels products as preservative-free. The plaintiff alleges that the all natural, preservative-free labelling on Virgil's Root Beer and Virgil's Orange Cream Soda is fraudulent as they contain citric acid, which is a synthetic compound used as a preservative.{{Cite web |last=Mallari-Torres |first=Jenie |date=28 November 2018 |title=Virgil's Soda alleged to have falsely advertised drinks as having no preservatives |url=https://legalnewsline.com/stories/511647708-virgil-s-soda-alleged-to-have-falsely-advertised-drinks-as-having-no-preservatives |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=Legal Newsline |archive-date=January 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128082858/https://legalnewsline.com/stories/511647708-virgil-s-soda-alleged-to-have-falsely-advertised-drinks-as-having-no-preservatives |url-status=live }} The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations have designated citric acid as a preservative.{{Cite web |date=17 January 2023 |title=CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 |url=https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=582.6033 |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=U.S. Food & Drug Administration |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307151752/https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/CFRSearch.cfm?fr=582.6033 |url-status=live }} The plaintiff notes a previous FDA citation against Chiquita for falsely claiming a product as preservative-free when it contained citric acid.{{Cite web |last=Spicer |first=Christina |date=27 November 2018 |title=Virgil's Sodas Class Action Says Natural Labels are Misleading |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/beverages/virgils-sodas-class-action-says-natural-labels-misleading/ |access-date=10 March 2023 |website=Top Class Actions |archive-date=March 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311064603/https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/beverages/virgils-sodas-class-action-says-natural-labels-misleading/ |url-status=live }}
References
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{{Root beer brands}}