Poppi, a newly popular soda brand created in 2015 and manufactured in Austin, Texas, is undergoing a Class Action Lawsuit where the plaintiff states that Poppi has falsely advertised their soda.  They claim that their sodas are gut-healthy and filled with good prebiotics. Poppi denied the news written about their sodas to keep their consumer base. This lawsuit could be detrimental to Poppi’s branding and vital to keeping consumers.   

Many Marymount students enjoy a Poppi often thinking that it is a healthy soda option but in reality, it isn’t as “gut healthy” as the brand claims it to be. In my experience, when I first tried Poppi here on campus, I began noticing certain stomach pains and abdominal discomfort, immediately after consuming the soda.  Bloating and cramps stayed with me for the rest of the day. While every human body reacts differently to certain foods, Poppi contains less than 7.5 grams of Agave Inulin, which is the recommended amount for soft drinks to have to support bowel movements and healthy digestion. Also, Poppi claims that their soda does not contain added sugars, but you can clearly see that there are four grams of added sugars when you look at the nutrition label!   

For advertising brands, the FDA requires clear and specific labeling, which means the brand must put any nutritional benefits of their product on the front of their packaging. The brand must also avoid false claims when advertising what dietary benefits or supplements their product may or may not have. Poppi, while it has a few good benefits to the gut, falsely advertises their product with unproven health claims. This emphasizes that their healthy soda might not be so healthy.