20111123

Lawsuit targets SkinnyGirl margarita quality

Skinnygirl Margarita brand is being sued on a charge of false labeling.

A lawsuit filed by Christopher Rapcinsky and Erin Baker claims the product originally created and owned by Bethenny Frenkel of the "Real Housewives of New York" TV show does not contain the premium "100% blue agave tequila" stated on the label of the ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage.

That, say the plaintiffs, results in "a lower quality and purity tequila by-product called mixto -- essentially a mash of tequila and some unknown additives (rarely organic) which may comprise as much as 49% of the final mixed liquor."

Rapcinsky and Baker originally lodged a $10 million suit against Skinnygirl Margarita over the company's use of the term "all natural," saying the producer's claims of having no preservatives are false. The new claim is added to the original suit.

The suit does not name Frankel, acknowledging that she sold the brand to Beam Global. Beam later removed the "100% percent natural" claim from the label, using the phrase "premium Blue Agave tequila" instead.

Beam Global dismisses the case as “frivolous,” and released a statement saying, "Skinnygirl Margarita is made with premium blue agave tequila and meets the highest quality standards. We will defend our case vigorously, and we are fully confident we will prevail."

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