Shark Tank Fame 'Poppi Sodas' Face $5 Million Lawsuit, Here's Why

"Prebiotics are a special type of fiber that can act as food for healthy bacteria in your gut," Poppi's claims of its products on their website. "Each can of poppi includes agave inulin, a prebiotic (and natural sweetener!) extracted from the agave tequilana plant."

However, the lawsuit, which was initiated on Wednesday, claims that the sodas, marketed as low-sugar and beneficial for gut health, contain only minimal amounts of prebiotic fiber (merely 2 grams per serving). It argues that this quantity is too insignificant for consumers to derive any health benefits from the drinks.

The lawsuit, demanding $5,000,000 in damages, states "A consumer would need to drink more than four Poppi sodas in a day to realize any potential health benefits from its prebiotic fiber. However, even if a consumer were to do this, Poppi's high sugar content would offset most, if not all, of these purported gut health benefits."

The complaint further alleges that a diet based on inulin could lead to "inflammation and even liver damage" at daily intakes as low as 10 grams. It calls for a jury trial to assess whether Poppi's advertising practices have violated the law.

Since their debut on "Shark Tank" in 2018, Poppi's sodas have become a viral sensation, retailing at $2.49 per can on the manufacturer's website.

The sodas, infused with apple cider vinegar and packaged in vibrant cans, have soared in popularity. According to a Forbes report in March mentioned in the lawsuit, Poppi now holds a 19% market share—over 1.5 times larger than that of Coca-Cola products—and ranks as the 11th fastest-growing beverage brand, outpacing companies such as Gatorade and Liquid Death.