Prebiotic soda water stain Poppi is facing a case that claims the drinks may not really render any real bowel wellness benefits .

Eugene Gologursky   /   Stringer / Getty Images

Soda is not good for you , but prebiotic sodas are : At least that ’s what we ’ve been told about Poppi , one of the better - sellingfunctional drinks , alongside other stigma like Olipop and Wildwonder . Poppi is touted as an alternative to its less - healthy cousin , traditional sodas , and it take to provide you with wellness and wellness benefits . However , that call might not actually be true .

variety of poppi sodas in bowl

Credit:Eugene Gologursky / Stringer / Getty Images

Last week , Kristin Cobbs of San Francisco filed a class action lawsuit against the company , which claims that Poppi actually is n’t specially gut levelheaded at all . Poppi ’s website saysit ’s made with yield juice , apple cyder acetum , and inulin prebiotics — and prebiotics do help your intestine .

“ Prebiotics nurture a goodish gut surroundings , which is crucial for optimal wellness , since your microbiome is involved in nutrient absorption , regulating blood sugar and cholesterin floor , climate rule , and immune operation , ” Samantha Cassetty , MS , RD , a plant - focus nourishment and wellness expert , has previouslytoldBetter Homes & Gardens .

The trouble ? Poppi only contains two gm of prebiotics per can , whichaccording to the case , is “ an amount too low to cause meaningful catgut health benefit for the consumer from just one can . ”

“ consequently , a consumer would need to drink more than four Poppi sodas in a day to realize any likely wellness benefit from its prebiotic fiber , ” the cause reads . “ However , even if a consumer were to do this , Poppi ’s eminent kale depicted object would countervail most , if not all , of these purported gut wellness benefits . ”

Cobbs pronounce she purchased theprebiotic sodasbecause of the label , which have the slogan : " Be Gut Healthy . Be Gut Happy . " She argues that they did n’t ameliorate her intestine health at all — and might have had the diametrical effect .

“ Ms. Cobbs , however , did not receive the benefit of her bargains because the Products did not , in fact , turn back enough ‘ prebiotics ’ to achieve any meaningful ‘ bowel health , ’ ” the lawsuit reads . “ Likewise , Ms. Cobbs was unaware that unreasonable consumption of the Products could negatively touch on her wellness . Had Ms. Cobbs known that Defendant ’s representations and warrant about the Products were false , she would not have buy the Products or would have pay substantially less for them . ”

The causa “ take ” a test by jury , as Cobbs is seeking monetary relief for herself and other client who ’ve had a similar experience .

In a response put out on June 3 , it seem Poppi is n’t back down .

“ We are on a delegation to revolutionize soda for the next generation of soda imbiber , and we have diligently innovated to supply a tasting experience that millions of hoi polloi have come to enjoy , " astatement from the companyreads . " We believe the causa is baseless , and we will vigorously defend against these allegation . ”

To get the welfare of prebiotics for a healthier catgut , expertsrecommend rust immune - supercharge foods , like onions , garlic , asparagus , beans , black and green tea , apples , honey , and more . If you want to avoid added sugar , avoid the sodium carbonate — they should n’t be process as a refilling or healthy alternative , according to functional medicine expertJill Carnahan , MDin a prior interview with BHG .