Coca-Cola Vitaminwater Class Action Gets Green Light

New York, NYThe Coca-Cola Vitaminwater consumer fraud class action lawsuit can go ahead, US Magistrate Judge Robert M. Levy has ruled. The lawsuit alleges deceptive marketing practices, specifically deceptive labeling for the soft drink, which included claims that Coke’s Vitaminwater could reduce the risk for eye disease, promote healthy joints and support "optimal immune function."

CSPI Michael F. Jacobson, executive director for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, said, "The marketing of vitaminwater will go down in history as one of the boldest and brashest attempts ever to affix a healthy halo to what is essentially a junk food, a non-carbonated soda. Vitaminwater, like Coca-Cola itself, promotes weight gain, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cannot deliver on any of the dishonest claims it has made over the years," ABC News.com reports.

The CSPI, which filed the lawsuit, claims that the drink does more to promote obesity, diabetes and other related health problems, as the drink contains 33 grams of sugar, according to their nutritionists. A 12-ounce can of a typical soft drink contains 39 grams of sugar. Furthermore, there is less than 1 percent juice in any of the drinks, despite the fact that they are named after fruits such as Kiwi Strawberry, etc.