Chicago woman drops federal lawsuit over Skinnygirl cocktail

A Chicago woman on Tuesday agreed to drop her federal lawsuit that claimed reality TV star Bethenny Frankel’s Skinnygirl Margarita cocktail is advertised as “all natural” but contains a non-natural preservative.

Amy Langendorf sued Frankel (a star of “The Real Housewives of New York” who created the Skinnygirl brand and promotes it on the show), Frankel’s SGC Global and Beam Global Spirits and Wine, which owns Skinnygirl Margarita, arguing that she purchased the pre-made cocktail based on the claim the drink is all-natural.

In her 2011 lawsuit, Langendorf claimed the drink contains sodium benzoate, a preservative commonly found in foods. Court records show that both sides agreed that the case not go forward and that they pay their own legal fees. U.S. District Judge Manish Shah then dismissed the suit Tuesday with prejudice.

Langendorf filed the lawsuit after the Whole Foods grocery chain pulled Skinnygirl Margarita from its shelves in 2011. Chain officials said the margarita contained a “preservative that did not meet our quality standards.”

A rep for Skinny Girl acknowledged at the time that the margarita contains low levels of sodium benzoate so it can remain on store shelves.

Langendorf, 26, previously tried to seek class action status for her lawsuit and cover people in Illinois who purchased Skinnygirl Margarita since March 1, 2009, but Shah denied that motion in October because he said Langendorf did not have a plan to determine who would be members of that class.

Langendorf was seeking damages and to stop the advertisement of Skinnygirl Margaritas as “all natural” and “containing no preservatives.”

Lawyers for Frankel and Langendorf did not return messages. Langendorf also did not return a Tribune call seeking comment.