Poppi Soda Brand Facing Lawsuit, Alleging It Deceives Customers About Health Benefits

By Trisha Andrada

Jun 04, 2024 01:54 AM EDT

poppi sodas
Atmosphere at the Poppi Soda's Back Beach Bash at Gurney's Montauk on July 28, 2023 in Montauk, New York. (Photo : Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Poppi)

One unhappy customer has taken the soda brand Poppi to court, claiming that their products do not have the beneficial effects on gut health as advertised.

Claims of Deceptive Advertising

Kristin Cobbs is a frequent consumer of the product who filed that complaint last week in the United States District Court in San Francisco, The Associated Press reported. She claims that Poppi beverages are marketed as prebiotic sodas with the motto, "Be Gut Happy. Be Gut Healthy."

However, upon further investigation, Cobbs discovered that Poppi beverages contain just around 2 grams of prebiotic agave inulin fiber. She believes that amount is inadequate to provide any discernible advantage to the gut.

According to Cobbs, studies have shown that even taking 7.5 grams of agave inulin every day for three weeks is not enough to have a noticeable prebiotic effect.

The complaint states that customers would eat more sugar if they drank more Poppi, negating any prebiotic advantages.

Cobbs seeks financial relief for herself and other clients like her.

In a statement released on Monday, June 3, Poppi reaffirmed its claims about their drinks. The business says it intends to defend itself aggressively against the charges made in the complaint, which it considers to be baseless.

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Beloved by Celebrities

Poppi claims on its website that its sodas are 25 calories or less, 5 grams of sugar or less, and prebiotic-containing, made with agave inulin, apple cider vinegar, and fruit juice. The website says that agave inulin, extracted from the agave tequilana plant, is a natural sweetener and prebiotic.

The prebiotic fiber inulin, according to Poppi, may help maintain a healthy gut microbiome by increasing the diversity of beneficial bacteria and fueling the growth of certain types of bacteria, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli.

Post Malone, Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, Billie Eilish, Russell Westbrook, Jennifer Lopez, and Olivia Munn are among the celebrities who love Poppi sodas, according to USA Today. The company claims its products have gone from being a favorite at farmers' markets to being sold at every major retailer in the country thanks to an investment in Shark Tank.

READ MORE: Singapore Issues Recall for China Walnut Products Over Prohibited Sweeteners

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