A lawsuit has been filed in the Northern District of California against VNGR Beverage, the makers and distributors of Poppi soda. The suit claims that the popular drink does not contain enough prebiotic fiber to provide health benefits from consuming just one can. The lawsuit states that a person would need to drink more than four Poppi sodas in a day to realize any of the product’s claims. However, the high sugar content in the drink would offset most, if not all, of these purported gut health benefits.
Poppi’s website states that their drinks contain agave inulin, apple cider vinegar, and fruit juice, which are ingredients that have led to the soda’s popularity. Agave inulin is a naturally soluble fiber that functions as a prebiotic but consuming too much of it can lead to adverse health effects such as gas, abdominal discomfort, diarrhea and liver damage according to the lawsuit. The company defends their products stating that they stand behind them and believe the lawsuit is baseless and they will vigorously defend against the allegations.
The lawsuit raises questions about the health benefits of this popular beverage and its ingredients. This ban on certain food additives due to health concerns adds another layer of scrutiny to these drinks’ ingredients and their potential impact on consumers’ health.
