Coca-Cola markets its VitaminWater products using claims that the sugared-up beverage prevents disease, promotes healthy joints, boosts immune function and enhances endurance. But each serving contains 33 grams of processed sugar, and that makes the drink far more likely to cause diabetes and obesity than to offer any protective health benefits, says the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).
So the CSPI has filed a class action lawsuit that says the health claims of VitaminWater products go far beyond those allowed by the FDA. The effort intends to force Coke to cease using such health claims in the marketing of its VitaminWater beverages.
Coca-Cola’s pushing of health claims for a sugared-up beverage that’s laced with a tiny amount of synthetic vitamins is a good example of a new trend we’re witnessing in the beverage industry: The claiming that sugary, acidic sodas are suddenly “healthy” by adding synthetic vitamins. The FDA has even allowed many similar claims to remain unchallenged, such as claims by instant chocolate milk products that their formulas help kids “build strong bones.” (Instant chocolate milk is perhaps 75% table sugar, which causes bone mineral loss.)
The bottom line? The FDA’s determination of what health claims it will allow on beverages seems to be based entirely on the size of the corporation making the claim, not the merit of the science behind it.
And anybody thinking they’re going to derive health benefits from the consumption of VitaminWater is kidding themselves. You’d get far more vitamins from eating a single strawberry.
By: Mike Adams
Source: http://www.naturalnews.com/News_000661_VitaminWater_Coca-Cola_heath_claims.html
