Watch CBS News

MillerCoors Sues Anheuser-Busch Over Corn Syrup Ads

(AP) — MillerCoors has filed a lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch, saying its St. Louis-based rival wants to "frighten" people away from Miller Lite and Coors Light by claiming those beers have corn syrup.

The lawsuit was filed Thursday in Wisconsin federal court but the feud between the country's two largest brewers began when Anheuser-Busch aired commercials making the corn syrup claim during this year's Super Bowl .

Beer Battle
In this photo taken on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, cases of Pabst Blue Ribbon and Coors Light are stacked next to each other in a Milwaukee liquor store. Pabst Brewing Company and MillerCoors are heading to trial starting Monday, Nov. 12, to settle a contract dispute in which Pabst accuses the brewing giant of trying to undermine its competitor by breaking a contract to make their products. (AP Photo/Ivan Moreno)

Corn syrup is a fermentation aid used by several brewers , including Anheuser-Busch and MillerCoors. But no corn syrup remains in the beers once fermentation is complete.

Chicago-based MillerCoors says Anheuser-Busch is preying on health conscious consumers who have negative connotations of corn syrup, sometimes confusing it with the high-fructose corn syrup in sodas. MillerCoors wants a judge to order Anheuser-Busch to stop the ads.

Anheuser-Busch says it stands by its campaign and won't change it.

Copyright 2019 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.