Bumbu Rum

You might want to put down your rum and coke before reading this lest you spit out your drink.

A new class-action lawsuit alleges that Bumbu rum doesn’t meet federal standards to be marketed as rum due to an alcohol content below the 40 percent alcohol by volume regulatory minimum for rum and added ingredients that alter the class of the beverage.

The Product is closer to a cordial or liqueur because it is believed to contain added sugar and flavorings beyond threshold to qualify under this type of beverage. However, the description of “rum liqueur” would not be accurate because the significant amount of added vanilla and banana flavoring and sweetening … means its predominant characteristic is no longer rum.

The lawsuit continues:

As a result of the false and misleading representations, the Product is sold at a premium price, approximately no less than $35 per 750 mL, excluding tax and sales, higher than similar products, represented in a non-misleading way, and higher than it would be sold for absent the misleading representations and omissions.

The lawsuit states that the “aggregate amount in controversy exceeds $5 million.”

Of note, Bumbu rum was among the alcohol brands TINA.org in 2018 found DJ Khaled promoting on Snapchat without disclosing his material connection to the brands (though the rum was not a part of the music producer’s spiked cereal creation).

TINA.org reached out to Bumbu for comment. Check back for updates.

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