Coca-Cola headed to court over Vitaminwater “health claims”

In recent news, a lawsuit was filed against Coca-Cola that challenges their claims that their product, Vitaminwater, has actual health benefits.

The health advocacy group that filed the suit is making the complaint that Coca-Cola has marketed this product line as a “healthy” alternative, when in actuality it’s just the opposite. Advertisements state that the product is simply a combination of vitamins and water. However, sugar is conveniently omitted from the label, a known contributor to diabetes and obesity, among other things. Vitaminwater contains 32.5 grams of sugar and has between 100-125 calories. Coca-Cola’s false health claims in regards to Vitaminwater violate the FDA regulation which states a company cannot make a “health claim, or any nutrient content claim involving the word healthy (or any derivative), about a food unless it contains, in the quantity customarily consumed at one setting, at least 10% of the recommended daily reference quantity of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, calcium, iron, protein or fiber.” What’s misleading to consumers is that the vitamin percentages listed on the label are per bottle not per serving. Judge Gleeson dismissed only 3 of the 13 initial claims against Coca-Cola, leaving the remaining claims to be sorted out in court.