Coca Cola® Water With Vitamins Might Not Be a Healthy Beverage

VitaminWater® from the Coca-Cola Company sounds like a healthy product that promotes wellness, right? It comes in several flavors with names like “Defense,” “Rescue,” “Energy” and “Endurance.” It certainly seems like it might be an energizing treat. Well, maybe not. According to nutritionists at the Center for Science, the product is loaded with sugar to the tune of 33 grams in each and every 20 oz. bottle.

As a result of this discovery, Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) has decided to take the Coca-Cola Company to court. A class action suit has been filed by CSPI against the company for deceptive and unsubstantiated claims on its VitaminWater line of beverages.

Coca-Cola has made a wide variety of advertising statements regarding the effectiveness of VitaminWater. Included in the hype are claims that drinking it reduces the risk of chronic disease, promotes healthy joints and that it supports the immune system.

According to CSPI nutritionists, the opposite is actually true in terms of good health. “The 33 grams of sugar in each bottle of VitaminWater do more to promote obesity, diabetes and other health problems than the vitamins in the drinks do to perform the advertised benefits listed on the bottle.”

CSPI believes that Coca-Cola marketing has gone beyond the limits of statements the U.S. Food and Drug Administration allows, all the way to making fraudulent claims about the product. As a result of their investigation, a suit has been filed against the company in the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California.

“VitaminWater is Coke’s attempt to dress up soda in a physician’s white coat,” said CSPI litigation director Steve Gardner. “Underneath, its still sugar water, albeit sugar water that costs about ten bucks a gallon.”

CSPI’s executive director Michael F. Jacobson had these words of wisdom for health-conscious people: “My advice to consumers is to get your vitamins from real food. 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.”

Source: Center for Science in the Public Interest. “Coke Sued for Fraudulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting VitaminWater.” January 2009. http://cspinet.org/new/200901151.html

Dr. Craig’s Comments:
I know you are trying to find the healthy alternative to the “bad stuff”. In doing so, remember 2 things: First, don’t get your product education from some marketing team – go get it on your own. Second, don’t get too comfortable with your choices – always be looking for the better version!


Speak up and educate others,


Dr. Craig Burns