Poppi Is Being Sued for False Health Claims Connected to Its Gut-Healthy Soda: A Dietitian Weighs in
Beverage brand Poppi is being sued in a class-action lawsuit filed by a consumer who says Poppi products don’t improve gut health as much as their marketing suggests. Woman’s World asked a nutrition expert for their thoughts on the allegations and on the benefits of Poppi soda.
Poppi faces a lawsuit from a customer
Kristin Cobbs filed a suit District Court in San Francisco, California, in May, citing that she purchased Poppi drinks on multiple occasions because of their messaging, which markets the drinks as functional for gut health.
Cobbs said her complaint stems from her finding that Poppi drinks contain only around 2 grams of prebiotic agave inulin fiber, which she believes is an insufficient serving for a real impact on gut health. She cited research showing that consuming 7.5 grams of agave inulin daily for three weeks would not have significant prebiotic benefits. Cobbs said drinking enough Poppi to actually reap gut health benefits would result in sugar over-consumption.
The company boasts the slogan “Be Gut Happy. Be Gut Healthy,” and is marketed as a drink as flavorful as soda with much healthier ingredients. A can of Poppi contains 5 grams of sugar or less, 25 calories or less, apple cider vinegar and agave inulin, which is a prebiotic and natural sweetener extracted from the agave plant.
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The Poppi website explains that, “Inulin is a prebiotic fiber that may support gut health by diversifying the gut microbiome and providing fuel for good bacteria, particularly Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli.”
“We are on a mission to revolutionize soda for the next generation of soda drinkers, and we have diligently innovated to provide a tasting experience that millions of people have come to enjoy,” the company said in a response to the lawsuit. “We believe the lawsuit is baseless, and we will vigorously defend against these allegations.”
A dietitian weighs in on the claims against Poppi soda
Jessica Alfano, MS, RDN, CNSC, CDN, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Certified Nutrition Support Clinician with Huntington Hospital Northwell Health, says she agrees with the statement that the amount of dietary fiber (prebiotic) in one Poppi drink doesn’t yield meaningful gut health benefits, and that drinking enough Poppi to see positive gut health changes would also result in too high of a sugar intake.
“In general, when a food product promises something that sounds too good to be true, it usually is,” Alfano says. “But I also think most people don’t consume Poppi because they think it’s going to solve all their gut issues. Most people are probably drinking it as a healthier alternative to regular soda and because they like the taste!”
Alfano also points out that there are plenty of healthy, nutrient dense foods that are much more rich in fiber than a single can of Poppi, which are healthful in general as well as naturally beneficial for gut health, especially fruits and vegetables.
Take a look at this TikTok video from holistic nutritionist Kayla Varney, where she similarly explains that Poppi is a healthier alternative to soda, and not a cure-all for gut health.
“While this doesn’t mean to drink 10 cans of Poppi instead of actually eating fruits and vegetables and whole grains, it can certainly help you reach those daily fiber goals,” she says.
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