Vitaminwater is a healthy drink
| Vitaminwater is a healthy drink | |
|---|---|
| MISLEADING | |
| "Vitaminwater's vitamins and names like "defense" and "rescue" make it a healthy drink that supports immunity and wellbeing." | |
| Domain | Food, Nutrition & Wellness |
| Tactic | False Context |
| Era | Current |
| First seen | 2000s |
| Origin | Glacéau and Coca-Cola marketing of vitaminwater from the 2000s |
| Last reviewed | 2026-10-30 |
| Further reading: books on Food, Nutrition & Wellness | |
Vitaminwater, sold by Coca-Cola after it bought Glacéau in 2007 for $4.1 billion, was marketed with names like "defense," "rescue" and "revive," and with claims such as reducing the risk of eye disease and supporting immune function. A 20-ounce bottle of the original formula contained about 32 grams of sugar.
In 2009 the Center for Science in the Public Interest sued, calling the drink "soda with vitamins."
What the evidence shows
- Coca-Cola's defense. In court filings, Coca-Cola's lawyers argued that "no consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking vitaminwater was a healthy beverage."
- Court ruling. In 2010 a federal judge in New York allowed the lawsuit to proceed, finding the health claims could mislead consumers.
- Settlement. In 2016 Coca-Cola settled, agreeing to change labels and stop claims such as "vitamins + water = all you need."
Why it matters
Adding vitamins to sugary drinks is a common way to borrow a health halo. The company's own legal defense acknowledged the gap between the branding and the product.
Sources
- Ackerman v. Coca-Cola Co., US District Court for the Eastern District of New York, opinion of July 21, 2010.
- Center for Science in the Public Interest, "Coca-Cola Settles Vitaminwater Lawsuit," 2016.
- The Guardian, "Coca-Cola: vitaminwater not healthy," July 2010.