Coca-Cola Sued For Sugar Laden VitaminWater Sold As Healthy Alternative

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Main Category: Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet;  Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 17 Jan 2009 - 10:00 PDT

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Rather than reducing chronic disease risk, Coca-Cola's VitaminWater is more likely to increase a regular consumer's chances of being obese or developing diabetes, says the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). The CSPI says Coca-Cola's claims are "deceptive and unsubstantiated".

In a press release, CSPI says that Coke sells VitaminWater as a healthy alternative to other sodas. It labels its various flavors with such buzz-words as 'defense', 'rescue', 'energy', and 'endurance'. CSPI adds that Coca-Cola claims the drink variously lowers the risk of chronic disease, eye disease, promote healthy joints, and support optimal immune function.

However, according to CSPI nutritionists, each VitaminWater bottle contains 33 grams of sugar. This amount of sugar in each drink is more likely to promote, diabetes, obesity and other health problems, compared to the benefits claimed by the added vitamins listed on the bottles.

CSPI says its litigation department is serving as co-counsel in the suit, which was filed in the United States District Court in the Northern District of California. Reese Richman LLP and Whatley Drake & Kallas, LLC are also involved in the case.

James Koh, plaintiff, a San Francisco, California resident, who used to purchase and drink VitaminWater after a work-out at his local gym, said "When I bought VitaminWater, frankly I thought I was doing myself a favor health-wise. I was attracted by the prospect of getting extra vitamins. But I had no idea that I was actually getting almost a Coke's worth of sugar and calories. There's no way I would have spent money on that, had I known."

According to CSPI, vitamins do play various roles in the human body; however, the VitaminWater labels' claims go "far beyond even the loose, so-called structure/function claims allowed by the FDA and cross the line into outright fraud".

CSPI says VitaminWater contains between 0% to 1% juice, even though the full names of the drinks include "endurance peach mango" and "focus kiwi strawberry" and "xxx blueberry pomegranate acai".

The antioxidants in the "xxx" drink are claimed to make the drinker last longer in an unspecified way, according to a press release, says CSPI - even though they contain no blueberry, pomegranate, or acai juice. The other juices contain no cranberry, grapefruit, dragon fruit, peach, mango, kiwi, or strawberry juice.

The Coca-Cola company acknowledged that "obesity and other health concerns may reduce demand for some of (its) products," (documents filed, 2007, Securities and Exchange Commission). It added that "increasing public awareness" about health experts' concerns over sugar-sweetened beverage could affect the company's profitability, says CSPI.

In 2007 Coke acquired, Glaceau, VitaminWater's parent company.

CSPI litigation director Steve Gardner said ""Coke fears, probably correctly, that they'll sell less soda as Americans become increasingly concerned with obesity, diabetes, and other conditions linked to diets too high in sugar. VitaminWater is Coke's attempt to dress up soda in a physician's white coat. Underneath, it's still sugar water, albeit sugar water that costs about ten bucks a gallon."

CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson said "My advice to consumers is to get your vitamins from real food. If you have reason to believe you have a shortcoming of one vitamin or another, perhaps take an inexpensive supplement. But don't seek out your vitamins in sugary soft drinks like Coke's VitaminWater."

Source - CSPI Litigation

Written by - Christian Nordvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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