What do future generations of Americans look like? What health problems do they struggle with? If our past is any indication, America will only grow more obese in the next generation. Obesity already costs Americans nearly $173 billion annually. This future seems unsustainable for our people and pockets, so what is the solution?
Enter Poppi: the magic elixir being consumed by celebrities, influencers, and everyday Americans. Boasting “prebiotics for your gut,” Poppi has been a sensation on social media through its campaigns urging people to “love soda again.”
However, the future of the company may not be as cheery as its advertising conveys. In May of 2024, a lawyer from San Francisco sued VNGR Beverage LLC, the parent company of Poppi, with a class action lawsuit for false marketing claims. The suit has the potential to ruin the reputation and success of the company.
The plaintiff alleges that Poppi benefits from false marketing, stating that those buying these sodas did so because of the “gut-healthy” claims. The plaintiff contends that these claims are false and misleading because Poppi does not contain enough prebiotic fiber to impact actual gut health.
Many Americans want to be healthier, and while gut health is part of that, most Americans do not know very much about their intestinal microbiomes. In a 2023 poll, out of 1005 Americans quizzed on the human microbiome, 85% received a failing grade. What Americans do know is that sodas and other sweets have contributed to sky-high levels of obesity: in this same poll, 41% of Americans said that the standard American diet is healthy, as long as sweets are kept in moderation.
Therefore, the Americans buying Poppi most likely do so because drinking a low-sugar soda is an easier way to make a healthy choice than by eating whole foods or exercising daily. This lawsuit, by attacking Poppi, could discourage other companies from making strides towards adding healthier options to the market, and thus from moving the needle on American health and the obesity epidemic.
One in three American adults are obese, but in the late 1970s, obesity only impacted 15% of American adults. In the post-war period, suburban, sedentary lifestyles became commonplace for Americans who had once been manual laborers or used walking as a primary form of transportation. Yet, a decrease in how many calories Americans expend each day is not the sole cause of the obesity epidemic.
Subsidies on corn in the 1970s made high-fructose corn syrup a cheaper way to sweeten food and drinks in the 70s and 80s. In 1984, Coca Cola stopped sweetening their US-made beverages with sugar, committing completely to corn syrup. High-fructose corn syrup allowed fast-food chains to easily and cheaply sweeten their foods, due to its low production cost and shelf stability. But most importantly, Americans became addicted to its sweetness. High-fructose corn syrup 55, the formulation used in most sodas, contains 55% fructose, whereas table sugar is 50% fructose and 50% glucose.
High sugar intake can spike blood sugar and increase the risk of diabetes and cause obesity, exacerbating other health problems. There are many additional health risks associated with ingesting too much fructose, as opposed to sucrose, since it is metabolized differently. Despite having the same calorie count, their impacts on the body are different. A high level of fructose ingestion can cause the body to produce less ATP, the energy which powers your cells.
This can eventually impact the entire body, causing insulin resistance, the body’s inability to regulate its own blood sugar levels. Insulin resistance, while mostly associated with Type Two Diabetes, is also linked to cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, and other chronic diseases.
Regardless of its negative health impacts, high-fructose corn syrup was revolutionary for the American food industry. Now, 50 years later, America is due for another food revolution. Poppi is blazing the trail.
Despite the work of politicians and programs like The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act to educate and encourage healthy eating habits, 63% of American adults report drinking sugar-sweetened drinks at least once a day. America can’t get rid of soda entirely, but brands like Poppi can make it healthier.
Poppi contains prebiotic fiber, and although there is not necessarily enough fiber in one can to prove beneficial to gut flora, the two grams of agave inulin inside a Poppi are nonexistent in a can of Coke. The allegation that Poppi knowingly harms their consumers by marketing the soda as a healthy alternative to other soda brands is misleading. Poppi’s “Classic Cola” has five grams of sugar per can, whereas Coca Cola has 39 grams in the same volume of soda. Therefore, Poppi truly is healthier than the sodas currently on the market; it has far less sugar, and zero high-fructose corn syrup.
For many Americans, cost is a major barrier to eating and being healthier. For example, Coke ranges from six to 80 cents per ounce, while Poppi costs 26 cents per ounce. However, avoiding the annual medical costs of living with obesity is well worth the investment. On average, an obese adult spends $1,861 more on medical bills than their non-obese counterparts. The difference in price between Poppi and traditional soda potentially discourages people from paying for Poppi. However, if politicians work to subsidize the production of healthier alternatives to high-sugar foods, it could alleviate this price discrepancy in the long term and make it possible for more Americans to make healthy decisions.
For many decades, soda was synonymous with Coca-Cola. Brand loyalty, whether it be to Coke, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, or any other, is tough to disrupt. However, Poppi filled the gap between sparkling water and diet soda: something that tastes good and is good for you. Earlier this year, Poppi held 19% of the market share in the soda market which has been for so long dominated by Coke.
Following Poppi’s success, sections of “functional beverages” — drinks formulated to provide additional health benefits, spanning from probiotics to adaptogens — have suddenly spawned in grocery stores, Targets, and Walmarts. The functional beverage market was worth $154 billion in 2023, making up over a third of the general “fizzy-drink” market, which was valued at $442 billion in 2022. Demand for functional ingredients, low-sugar options, and natural flavors is forcing this industry to evolve.
It is possible that this soda revolution could inspire more creative people to invent healthier alternatives to other unhealthy foods. Before Poppi, “healthy soda” was an oxymoron. Now, it is commonplace. Poppi proved that creating healthy options to the foods and drinks Americans love is possible. Hopefully, Poppi’s trailblazing is seen as an inspiration to other creative people, and the lawsuit against it doesn’t discourage people from making strides towards a healthier America.
