Coke Sued For Vitamin Water Claims
Class action lawsuit alleges packaging, advertising mislead consumers
-- Packaging Digest, 1/15/2009 12:39:00 PM
A class action lawsuit was filed late yesterday in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against the Coca-Cola Company alleging that Coca-Cola has used deceptive advertising in marketing its VitaminWater line of beverages. The plaintiff is represented by Whatley Drake & Kallas, LLC ("WDK"), Reese Richman LLP, and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI).
The complaint alleges that Coca-Cola deceived consumers by marketing VitaminWater as a healthy alternative to soft drinks formulated to provide a host of health benefits including reducing the risk of certain diseases, promoting healthy joints, and supporting optimal immune function. Contrary to Coca-Cola's claims of health benefits, the complaint alleges that the 33 grams of sugar in each bottle of VitaminWater may contribute to serious health problems, such as obesity and diabetes.
"Consumers are increasingly health-conscious, with more and more people avoiding soft drinks in favor of healthier alternatives," said WDK attorney Patrick Sheehan. "Coca-Cola has taken advantage of that trend -- and of consumers -- by purposefully misrepresenting their product as 'healthy' when in fact it is essentially sugar water with a few added vitamins. Consumers should not have to look beyond the misleading claims on VitaminWater labels in order to discover the truth on an ingredients list."
VitaminWater does not name Coca-Cola anywhere on its packaging or labeling, instead marketing these purportedly healthy drinks without any reference to the soft drink manufacturer that produces them.
"It's clear that Coca-Cola has attempted to market an alternative to its soda products in a way that deliberately deceives consumers," continued Sheehan. "Whatley Drake & Kallas is proud to be playing a role in protecting those consumers through this class action suit filed on their behalf."
Source: Whatley, Drake & Kallas, LLC
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OH COME ON PEOPLE, WE ALL SHOULD KNOW BY NOW THAT READING THE NUTRITION FACTS ON A PRODUCE IS THE ONLY WAY TO TELL EXACTLY WHAT YOUR PUTTING IN YOUR BODY.
THIS COUNTRY IS MAKING LAWYERS RICH WITH LAW SUITS LIKE THIS. THE CLIENTS WILL END UP WITH LESS THAN $20.00 EACH. BOYCOTT THE PRODUCT. THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO HURT COCA-COLA. THE WILL PASS ON ANY LITIGATION COST AND AWARDS TO ALL CONSUMERS.
PAT WILKERSON - 2009-16-1 07:27:00 EST -
Come on, let's get real. I don't drink Coke, mostly because it contains so much sugar, and I'm not a fan of their products, but the public has a responsibility to read the label. I'm sure the label shows, at least relatively, that it contains sugar. Yes, it is definitely sneaky on their part to hide the COKE connection, but in the end, it is the contents on the label that should drive consumer choices.
Richard - 2009-15-1 15:12:00 EST -
I would get in on the lawsuit in a heartbeat. I was fooled by Coke and I resent it. They deserve to be punished. Including the Top Brass. It's time that people start taking responsibility for their deceit.
c claudel - 2009-15-1 14:25:00 EST
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