At the beginning of 2009, the non-profit public interest group The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) brought a class action lawsuit against the Coca Cola Company for making a range of claims about its product 'VitaminWater' that go beyond those allowed by the Food and Drug Administration. The beverage company stands accused of selling what amounts to little more than sugar, artificial colouring and water and promoting it as something that can boost immunity, give energy and reduce risk of disease. Stephen Gardner, director of the litigation for public interest group said it best: "It truly shocks the conscience that a company like Coke would try to keep customers by selling them a soft drink and telling them it's a vitamin." Over a year later, as the case came to trial, the lawyers defending VitaminWater shocked anyone who was paying attention by making the statement that, despite the product's claims, "no consumer could reasonably be misled into thinking VitaminWater was a healthy beverage." To clarify, the product's name contains the word "Vitamin", an essential compound fundamental to the proper functioning of the human body, and "Water", an equally essential component of the human body, a lack of which leads to quick death. Advertisements for the beverage depict professional athletes at the top of their game sincerely stating that they drink the beverage daily. Flavours of the beverage have names like "Energy", "Focus" and "Power C". Yet, according to those representing the company, believing this product is good for you is unreasonable...Read More
