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News & ArtsMonday, July 26, 2010
Breaking News Vitaminwater ≠ Vitamins + Water
Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on Mon, Jul 26, 2010 at 10:59 AM
...and there's a lawsuit going forward against Vitaminwater's parent company—good ol' Coca-Cola—that would like to make this perfectly clear.
[U.S. District Court Judge John] Gleeson said Vitaminwater's use of the word "healthy" violates Food and Drug Administration labeling rules. In a 55-page opinion, Gleeson also took issue with the Vitaminwater's name, which fails to identify sugar as a key ingredient in the drink, though it is listed in nutrition information on the bottles.The product's name and labeling could "reinforce a consumer's mistaken belief that the product is comprised of only vitamins and water," Gleeson wrote.
Coca-Cola tried to get the case dismissed, but no dice. More from the Associated Press over here.
1
And those fucks sucked me in to all those killer special shows and parties over at Sole Repair! I been DUPED!
2
Vitaminsugarwater? Or more accurately, Vitamincornsweetenerwater?
Do people really think that if you mix vitamins with water it magically tastes like lemonade, or orange? I would like to meet one of these consumers who cling to such a belief.
Do people really think that if you mix vitamins with water it magically tastes like lemonade, or orange? I would like to meet one of these consumers who cling to such a belief.
3
Not to be confused with Coke, of course, which is basically Cornsweetenerwater (without the vitamins).
4
I claim prior art in using Water.
Heck, I even wrote a story a few decades ago talking about Vitamin Water, so I guess they owe me royalties.
Heck, I even wrote a story a few decades ago talking about Vitamin Water, so I guess they owe me royalties.
5
Vitaminwater Zero, though. Strangely delicious and sugar free. It's my second favorite "zero" miracle drink ever, though it ranks far behind the beautiful elixir of life that is Coke Zero.
9
Really? How stupid are people that they don't know there's sweetener in there? The real question is whether those vitamins are in a form our body can digest. Now there would be a worthwhile case.
11
@9, it's not that people are so "stupid" that they don't realize there's sweetener in there, it's that if you have an intentionally deceptive name, you're eventually going to get smacked down.
12
@11 Yes, people are stupid. If you look on the label it clearly says SUGAR 13G in the nutrition segment. If you read the list of ingredients, it has CRYSTALLINE FRUCTOSE CANE SUGAR as the third item. There is nothing deceptive about that. If a person thinks "Vitamin Water" means it only has vitamins and water, that person is stupid. I drink it because I can only drink so much water a day. There's less sugar than in sodas, and there's some health benefit.
14
@11
I don't see how it's deceptive. If it has water, and has vitamins, and has a list of all the ingredients in order, then the consumer can't complain.
I mean, you can't claim that "Corn Flakes" is deceptive because it has some chemical stabilizers in it.
Or, to reference a brilliant movie, that Girl Scout Cookies aren't made from real Girl Scouts.
I don't see how it's deceptive. If it has water, and has vitamins, and has a list of all the ingredients in order, then the consumer can't complain.
I mean, you can't claim that "Corn Flakes" is deceptive because it has some chemical stabilizers in it.
Or, to reference a brilliant movie, that Girl Scout Cookies aren't made from real Girl Scouts.
15
the name vitimin water did always rub me the wrong way. it'd be like putting the word "green" in something that wasn't environmentally friendly. like, the hummer green-4. when it's clearly benefiting off the perceived characteristic it ought to actually have it. though the suit seems to be over the use of the word, "healthy," and not merely "vitamin." i agree. vitamin water is misleading. but finding a way to voice that in the form of a rule? good luck. the rule the plaintiffs are proposed seems too broad, that's for sure.
17
I've been wondering about that "Vitaminwater Socialclub" that popped up in the previously-named Sole Repair space. What gives? Is it really funded by VitaminWater/CocaCola?
18
Ugh. So fucking fed up with hearing about Vitamin Water. Haven't people realized it's just watered down Robitussin?
@17- My guess is it's a way to invade our daily activities and re-brand hipster culture. And it works. Just take a look at all the Facebook profile pics with "Vitaminwater" repeated in the background.
@17- My guess is it's a way to invade our daily activities and re-brand hipster culture. And it works. Just take a look at all the Facebook profile pics with "Vitaminwater" repeated in the background.
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