Poppi class action alleges beverage not healthy as advertised

Poppi class action overview: 

• Who: A California woman, plaintiff Vanessa Jackson, has sued VNGR Beverage LLC, the maker of Poppi.
• Why: Jackson alleges Poppi contains too much sugar to be healthy, despite being marked as such.
• Where: The Poppi class action lawsuit was filed in a California federal court.

VNGR Beverage LLC is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging that its drink product Poppi, which is marketed as being beneficial for overall and digestive health, is loaded with sugar and does more harm than good.

Plaintiff Vanessa Jackson filed the class action complaint against VNGR Beverage LLC on Sept. 23 in a California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws. 

Jackson alleges that the company’s claims about its prebiotic soda “Poppi” being a healthy alternative to traditional soft drinks are misleading. 

VNGR’s marketing of Poppi promotes it as a “prebiotic soda” that aids gut health, claiming its ingredients can support digestive wellness and overall health. But Jackson alleges that these claims are false, especially considering the beverage’s high sugar content and negligible amount of fiber.

Poppi contains up to 100% of its calories from added sugars, making it a “sugar-sweetened beverage,” the complaint states. Scientific research has consistently shown that consuming these sorts of beverages can harm overall and gut health, rather than support it as VNGR claims, Jackson says. 

Poppi’s marketing includes slogans like “Be Gut Healthy” and “Prebiotics for a Healthy Gut,” giving consumers the impression that the drink can improve digestive health, she adds.

With only 2 grams of fiber, Jackson’s lawsuit alleges that Poppi does not offer any significant health benefits. “The fiber content is far too low to provide meaningful support for gut health,” the lawsuit states. 

Plus, VNGR omits crucial information about the negative effects of consuming high levels of free and added sugars, the lawsuit states.

The complaint says VNGR has sold Poppi in various flavors across the United States, including Strawberry Lemon, Orange, Classic Cola, and Blueberry Sage, among others. VNGR altered Poppi’s labeling earlier this year, removing some of the health claims, the lawsuit says, but Jackson argues that the damage had already been done to consumers who relied on the misleading marketing.

As a result, Jackson is seeking to represent anyone in California who bought Poppi in the last four years. She is suing for breach of warranty and violations of consumer law and is seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

In June, a California woman field a class action lawsuit against Poppi claiming the beverage company’s “Poppi Prebiotic Sodas” aren’t as good for the gut as is advertised.

What do you think of this Poppi lawsuit? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiff is represented by Jack Fitzgerald, Melanie R. Monroe, Trevor Flynn and Peter Grazul at Fitzgerald Monroe Flynn PC. 

The Poppi class action lawsuit is Vanessa Jackson v. VNGR Beverage LLC, Case No. 3:24-cv-06666  in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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