Poppi soda has filed a $5 million lawsuit over claims the ‘healthy’ drink offers no benefits and is filled with sugar

A ‘healthy’ soft drink loved by celebrities is ‘misleading’ customers with claims that it is good for your gut, according to a $5 million lawsuit filed against the company behind the drink.

Poppi soda retails for $2.49 per can and has developed a significant following, including celebrities like JLo and Paris Hilton who have signed lucrative advertising deals with the drink’s makers.

It claims to be ‘better for you’ because of the two grams of prebiotic fiber contained in each can – which is said to help stimulate healthy bacteria in the gut that are important for a host of vital health functions.

However, a group of disgruntled customers and nutritionists are now accusing the makers of selling ‘sweetened water’ under the guise of a bowel-boosting drink.

The plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit say two ounces is too little to benefit anyone unless someone drinks about four cans daily. At that point, the 20 grams of sugar – the equivalent of three cookies – would negate any benefit from the prebiotic.

Paris Hilton is one of Poppi’s high-profile fans. As a paid partner, she attended a launch event in LA this year

The complaint, filed in California’s Northern District Court, was filed by San Francisco resident Kristin Cobbs and other customers.

Ms Cobbs claims that she, like many others, was ‘misled’ by the company when she reached them in the supermarket and may have unknowingly put their personal health at risk as excess sugar in the diet can contribute to obesity. , type 2 diabetes and countless other health problems.

The lawsuit claims that the company misled customers by overestimating the health benefits derived from the ingestion of agave inulin, a type of fiber extracted from plants and a prebiotic.

It says that consumers were ‘unable to determine that Poppi not only did not provide any ‘prebiotic’ benefits for gut health, but also caused digestive and liver problems, while likely negating the prebiotic benefits due to its sugar content when taken regularly consumed.’

Nutritional studies cited in the lawsuit show that taking as much as 7.5 grams of agave inulin daily for three weeks — which amounts to nearly four soft drinks — is “insufficient to provide any meaningful prebiotic benefits.”

“As a result, a consumer would have to drink more than four Poppi soft drinks per day for 21 consecutive days before noticing any meaningful and reliable ‘prebiotic’ effects.”

The lawsuit cites nutrition researchers who have published findings on the benefits of agave inulin, as well as its disadvantages. One researcher states that “not only can it cause a lot of gas, but it is not the same as an insoluble fiber.”

And one nutritionist bluntly explained that the products are “essentially sweetened water.”

U.S. dietary guidelines recommend that men consume a maximum of nine teaspoons (36 grams) of sugar daily and that women limit their sugar intake to six teaspoons (25 grams).

Singer Jennifer Lopez has a collaboration with Poppi

The small amount of prebiotic from the fiber in the drink is too low to have any benefit, the lawsuit claims

Poppi insists the lawsuit is baseless, saying “we will vigorously defend ourselves against these allegations.”

The brand was born from a successful 2018 pitch on ABC’s Shark Tank.

Since then, the cans, which cost about $2.49 each, have taken a coveted spot on the shelves of Whole Foods and those of about 120 other major retailers.

Sales have since surpassed $100 million, helped by A-list celebrities guzzling down the soft drinks, including Jennifer Lopez, Kylie Jenner, Olivia Munn and Post Malone.

Poppi is also seeing a rapid rise in popularity.

According to Business Insider, it is now the eleventh fastest growing beverage brand, beating brands like Gatorade and Liquid Death.