Coca-cola faces a lawsuit over allegations that their vitamin enhanced drink, "Glaceau Vitaminwater" dupes consumers. However, Diana Garza Ciarlante, a Coca-Cola spokeswoman, calls the allegations "ludicrous", saying that today's consumers are savvy enough to read labels and sort out the nutritive value of what they consume. Rather than protecting consumers, Garza claims the suit is "about increasing the readership of CSPI's increasingly irrelevant newsletter."
CSPI (The Center for Science in the Public Interest), filed a class action lawsuit against Coca-Cola, claiming Coca-Cola misleads consumers by using "buzzwords" in their marketing campaign, such as defense," "rescue," "energy," and "endurance." CSPI leader Steve Gardner feels, "It's is really shocking that a company like Coca-Cola feels the need to market a soft drink as a vitamin pill to hide the fact it is really sugar water."
Garza counters the attack on the Coca-Cola Vitaminwater by reminding us that consumers are "savvy, educated and are looking for more from their beverages than just hydration. Many people know that they are not receiving adequate nutrients from their diets, so they have turned to products like Glaceau Vitaminwater in order to help supplement what they are not receiving from the foods they eat."
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However, perpetrating a drink that is a quick fix toward good health does not seem in the best interest of consumers, especially considering that Coca-Cola Vitamin water contains 33 grams of sugar per bottle, essentially no juice (0 to 1%), and a whole lot of calories. CSPI nutritionists say Coca-Cola Vitaminwater does nothing short of promoting obesity, diabetes, and poor health, which is directly disproportionate to Coca Cola's claims that Vitaminwater fights disease.
CSPI has filed a class-action lawsuit against Coca-Cola. CSPI leader Steve Gardner sums it up by saying, "Vitaminwater 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."
Executive Director of CSPI, Michael F. Jacobsen has some very good advice, "If you have reason to believe you have a shortcoming of one vitamin or another, perhaps take an inexpensive supplement. But don't seek out your vitamins in sugary soft drinks like Coke's Vitaminwater." Better yet,…"get your vitamins from real food". Should we see an end to Coca Cola Vitaminwater?
Resource: Coke Sued for Fraudulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting "VitaminWater"
Comments
#1 Coca-Cola's vitamin water
The manufacturers of The Pause That Refreshes are deceptive? Anyone remember the original ingredients in the ORIGINAL Coca-Cola? Where did the "Coca" come from? Cocaine. Now they sell water that is nothing more than filtered Atlanta tap water with a little salt added for a "fresh taste" and this Vitamin water as well. Coke is just another money whore that is happy to take advantage of a gullible American public with a slick marketing campaign. Screw the bastiges. Drink what you want...but be thankful for sites like this that keep us informed.
#2 Though I haven't had any for
Though I haven't had any for awhile, I like the vitamin water. How is it that different from Gatorade? A "sports drink" that offers even less nutritional value and about the same amount of sugar.
#3 Though I haven't had any
Hi therre,
That is an interesting point. I think that is exactly the market Coca Cola is trying to capture. When I go to the gatorade site, they claim their drink is low calorie, containing sucralose, "a no-calorie artificial sweetener". This is the ingredient breakdown that I was able to find:
Gatorade Ingredients
water, sucrose syrup, glucose-fructose syrup, citric acid, natural and artificial flavors, salt, sodium citrate, monopotassium phosphate, ester gum, sucrose acetate isobutyrate, yellow 5
Gatorade Nutrition Facts
serving size: 8 fl oz; calories 50; total fat 0g; sodium 110mg; potassium 30mg; total carbs 14g; sugars 14g
I know that they have many drinks, and also reformulated last year, so I'm not sure how up to date that is.
They say on the Gatorade official site that fruit juice delays gastric emptying, and that's why Gatorade doesn't use it - that sort of negates the challenge about no juice in vitaminwater, doesnt' it? They both have electrolytes, but a major difference is in the sugar content, and gatorade has no caffeine (as near as I can tell).
Vitaminwater ingredients:
Vapor distilled water, crystalline fructose, citric acid, caffeine, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), gum Arabic, natural flavor, electrolytes (calcium, magnesium, and potassium), gum ester, zinc picolinate, vitamin E acetate, vitamin A palmitate, niacin (B3), pantothenic acid (B5), beta carotene, Siberian ginseng and guarana extracts, cyanocobalamin (B12), caramel color, pyridoxine hydrochloride (B6)
It will be very interesting to see how this lawsuit against Coca Cola progresses.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
#4 v-water
i love the stuff myself. and sure, they use buzz words like "rescue" and "defense" but c'mon! as everyone seems to understand, people can read. so thus they can read the lable. people can feel and thus if the drink does inturn cause a "sensation" then hey, more power to ya and I say enjoy! heck, next thing ya'know someone is going to sue cause its to cold when you get it out of the fridge!
for u and me and the world,
j.G.
#5 v-water
Hi there,
Thank you for the comment. Yes, it's true. I remember reading about a lawsuit filed because a pair of sneakers did not come with instructions to tie the shoes, and they tripped. - Don't know if it's true, but it's a prime time example - lol.
#6 I dont understand what
I dont understand what allows the CSPI to bring forth a class action lawsuit against coca-cola company. I would like to what kind of settlement they are asking for and if they even have a legitimate case.
#7 I don't understand
I'm not sure how much they are requesting. It will unfold overtime - likely a long time! The Coca cola spokeswoman sure isn't impressed.
#8 Vitamin water lawsuit
This whole thing is a waste of taxpayer money no matter who pays the lawyer fees.
#9 vitamin water lawsuit
Yes, and we work way too hard for our money - especially in this economy, right?
Thanks for your comment.
#10 vitaminWater
i drink it all the time . it has a good flavor and it does pick me up. i need to drink more water and this is how i do it. i read the lable and i know what is in it. the lawsuit is bogus!