Email a Friend
Print Article
Vitamin Water on the Hot Seat
Glaceau's Vitamin Water (now owned by Coca-Cola) was on the list of beverage "sugar shockers" in a recent article I wrote for WebMD. I was just looking at potential products for the mere shock value over the amount of sugar a serving contains. I wasn't looking for which products had confusing and perhaps erroneous health claims on their packaging. But CSPI was...
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a nonprofit health advocacy group based in Washington, DC, just served notice to Coca-Cola of a class action lawsuit filed over what CSPI says are deceptive and unsubstantiated claims on its VitaminWater line of beverages. CSPI is strongly suggesting that this VitaminWater is really:
Vitamins + water + sugar + hype…equals soda minus the bubbles.
Instead of promoting health, CSPI nutritionists believe this line of product with 33 grams of sugar in each bottle (and in spite of the health buzz words used on their labels like "defense," "rescue," "energy," and "endurance,") is actually doing more to promote obesity, diabetes, and other health problems.
"While it is true that vitamins do play various roles in the human body, the statements on VitaminWater labels go far beyond even the loose, so-called "structure/function claims" allowed by the Food and Drug Administration and cross the line into outright fraud," notes CSPI in their press release.
Stay tuned on this one folks! They could both be in for a wild litigation ride. In the meantime, my advice is to get your nutrients (or vitamins) from whole foods as much as possible and to drink water or green tea without added sweetener (or vitamins).
Related Topics:
The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a nonprofit health advocacy group based in Washington, DC, just served notice to Coca-Cola of a class action lawsuit filed over what CSPI says are deceptive and unsubstantiated claims on its VitaminWater line of beverages. CSPI is strongly suggesting that this VitaminWater is really:
Vitamins + water + sugar + hype…equals soda minus the bubbles.
Instead of promoting health, CSPI nutritionists believe this line of product with 33 grams of sugar in each bottle (and in spite of the health buzz words used on their labels like "defense," "rescue," "energy," and "endurance,") is actually doing more to promote obesity, diabetes, and other health problems.
"While it is true that vitamins do play various roles in the human body, the statements on VitaminWater labels go far beyond even the loose, so-called "structure/function claims" allowed by the Food and Drug Administration and cross the line into outright fraud," notes CSPI in their press release.
Stay tuned on this one folks! They could both be in for a wild litigation ride. In the meantime, my advice is to get your nutrients (or vitamins) from whole foods as much as possible and to drink water or green tea without added sweetener (or vitamins).
Related Topics:
8 Comments:
I love the 'energy' flavor - I only drink one, once in a great while, and I knew they weren't any better for me than a soda. I'm kind of surprised they got away with their advertising for so long...
yeah when they first came out my high school stopped selling soda and started selling vitamin water as part of the school district's aim for healthier lunches. we were all completely convinced it was a healthier alternative! now i know. i just remember being angry because soda was only 65 cents and now i had to pay 1.25 for vitamin water so i started drinking 1.00 arizona iced tea which is way too sugary as well.
One time last year I bought a case of vitamin water at Costco, I thought the price was good. It wasn't until my husband and I tried a couple of bottles that we noticed 2 things: 1) we were experiencing unusual stomach cramps, and 2) we read the labels with the substantial amount of sugar. I returned the remaining to Costco for full refund imediately.
I drink the vita-rain from Costco. I know, trading chemicals for calories, but at least it doesn't mess with my blood sugar.
I also enjoy the Vita-Rain from Costco's
I also thought vitamin water was good for you but I looked at the calories and quit drinking it. Then I found one from Sobe that has 0 calories because it is fresh fruit and water. I can only find it at walmart in the cold section by the checkout. Sobe lifewater vitamin enhanced. My favorite is the black and blue berry.
I love Fruity Water Bev. but,I hate Vitamin Water it leave's a nasty after taste and has just as much sugar in it as a Cola or Pepsi! Everyone should try this new fruity bev. that's out called SoNu Water bev. its like Vitamin water and Gatorade without all the garbage.It's a low calories drink and it has a boosting cocktail of vitamins with no funny after taste!! You can buy it at any Whole Foods Store on the upper eastcoast!! SoNu Is So You!!! I'm telling you its "GREAT"
Why are they surprise that vitamin water has no vitamin? That's like being surprise that smart water doesn't make you smart? I can't believe this so-called CSPI is claiming this drink is promoting diabetes and obesity. First, sugar doesn't cause diabetes. Second, if you need to watch your sugar intake, like my mother does, then you need to read the nutrition facts on the item. People need to stop blaming others for their illnesses. This reminds me of the lawsuit for the fast food. Obese people claiming that didn't know eating a big Mac every day would make them fat. People need to stop relying on "quick fix" to a healthier life and start taking vitamins and exercising.
Post a Comment