Coke sued over ' deceptive' VitaminWater health claims
POSTED January 16, 2009 - 11:41 | POSTED BY Smrity Sharma
Last edited by Shikha Patial on January 16, 2009 - 11:52
California, United States, January 16: An American advocacy group on Thursday sued the Atlanta based soft drink giant, Coca-Cola’s line of VitaminWater beverages for deceptive and unsubstantiated claims.
The class action lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California.
The Center for Science in Interest (CSPI) based in Washington, D.C, said that the labeling of the VitaminWater misled the public by claiming that it can cut down on the risk of chronic diseases, promote healthy joints and support optimal immune function.
The head of CSPI’s litigation, Steve Gardner, said that vitamin water 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."
The Washington based nonprofit's nutritionists argue that they have found 33 grams of sugar in each 20 ounce bottle of Glaceau VitaminWater, which it says does “more to promote obesity, diabetes, and other health problems than the vitamins in the drinks do to perform the advertised benefits listed on the bottles.”
Their nutritionists also added that the drinks contain zero to 1 percent juice and said that getting vitamins from healthy food may be more effective.
However, the Coca Cola Company is adamant that they have not been deceptive in their claims and called the lawsuit a PR stunt aimed at getting national attention seven days before the inaugurationof U.S. President. Coca Cola bought Glaceau's VitaminWater for $4.1 billion in June 2007.
The beverage giant said in a statement, “This is a ridiculous and ludicrous lawsuit. Glacéau vitaminwater is a great tasting, hydrating beverage with essential vitamins and water, with labels showing calorie content.”
“Filing a lawsuit is an opportunistic PR stunt. This is not about protecting the public interest. This is about grandstanding at a time when CSPI is receiving very little attention. There is no surprise that one week before the inauguration of the U.S. President, with the flurry of activity in Washington, D.C., that CSPI has chosen today to try to bring attention to themselves” the company stated.
The statement also said that the company “does not need a "healthful" alternative to sodas. All our sparkling beverages can be part of healthful diet.”
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)had "scolded" Coca-Cola Co. in December 2008 that nutritional claims about added vitamins and minerals in its Diet Coke Plus doesn't meet their nutritional standards for the term "plus."
