Dive Brief
- Poppi Prebiotic Soda, The company is facing a class action lawsuit for false advertising. According to the complaint filed last week, plaintiff Christine Cobbs: Prebiotic Soda Even though the brand claims to provide “prebiotic” benefits, that “It’s basically sugar water.” The total claims in the class action lawsuit are, according to the complaint, Exceed $5 million.
- According to documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California:The brand’s “prebiotic” claim comes from its use of an ingredient called agave inulin, a natural soluble fiber derived from the agave plant. The lawsuit acknowledges that agave inulin “may function as a prebiotic,” but also says that many adult consumers can benefit from prebiotics in their regular diet. drinkAdditionally, the lawsuit states that consuming too much inulin “may cause adverse health effects.”
- A Poppi spokesperson said the company:[s] The company said it “stands behind our products and stands by them” and that the “lawsuit is without merit and we will vigorously defend ourselves against these claims.”
Dive Insight
Celebrities Poppi’s clients include Kylie Jenner and Billie Eilish, and, according to the lawsuit, San Francisco resident “Miss Cobbs” was also a client of Poppi’s.
“Ms. Cobbs paid a substantial price premium because of Defendants’ false and misleading claims about the health benefits of their products,” the lawsuit states. “However, Ms. Cobbs did not receive the benefit of the price discount because the products did not contain sufficient ‘prebiotics’ to have a meaningful effect on ‘gut health.'”
With flavours like Dog Pop, Ginger Lime and Classic Cola, Poppi sales surpass $100 million Poppi is popular because it is sold in over 120 major retailers nationwide, including Target, 7-Eleven, Costco, Kroger, and Whole Foods. The brand is also Amazon’s best-selling soft drink. Poppi has seen triple-digit growth in recent years and expects to reach that goal again in 2024.
The lawsuit states: Each can of Poppi contains 2 grams of prebiotic fiber, but consumers would need to consume at least 4 cans per day to reap the benefits. While there are health benefits, complaints say they are offset by the sugar content. 5 grams sugar Less than 25 calories per can.
Class action lawsuits targeting the food and beverage industry Become a phenomenon Over the past few years, Scott Hardy, president and CEO of litigation tracking website Top Class Actions, previously told Food Dive that these lawsuits are a way for consumers to take on large manufacturers.
“I’m having problems with a big company and I can’t just sue them on my own…” [feeling cheated] “It will cost you $5 a month or 50 cents per purchase, but if you or 100,000 other people have the same problem, there has to be a way to solve it,” Hardy said in 2021.
Poppi is based in Texas. Alison Ellsworth and her husband, Stephen, photographed in their kitchen after experiencing gastrointestinal upset. The fast-growing company has sparked rumors it may be a takeover target for a major beverage company like Coca-Cola. “It’s a big part of my life,” Allison told Food Dive last month. Poppi was not involved in the negotiations. Instead, prebiotic soda makers are focusing on growth.
