Latest news with #CorePower
NDTV
2 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Ozempic Users Flock To Protein Shake Now Named America's Unhealthiest Bottled Drink
Water is the best way to hydrate, but if you're craving something else, be cautious. Many bottled drinks like juice and protein shakes may seem healthy, but they're often high in sugar. These convenient drinks can exceed daily recommended sugar intake, making them a less healthy choice than they appear. Fairlife's Core Power protein shakes have been named the unhealthiest bottled beverage in America by food and nutrition magazine Eat This, Not That!, despite their popularity among fitness enthusiasts and Ozempic users. The shakes' muscle-boosting reputation is overshadowed by concerns over their nutritional content, sparking surprise and concern among consumers. A news portal consulted dietitian Mary Sabat, MS, RDN, LD, who identified the seven unhealthiest food choices-ranking Core Power Protein Shakes as the worst among them for health impact. They are a go-to for many after a workout or to boost their protein intake, but Sabat says these drinks are highly problematic. "I put these first because they are so highly marketed as a great source of protein and a healthy food when in reality they are a disaster to your metabolic health," Sabat says. "Core Power Protein Shakes may seem like a convenient post-workout drink, but a closer look at the ingredients reveals several health concerns." She explains, "They use non-organic, conventional dairy, which often comes from cows fed GMO corn and soy and may contain residues of hormones and antibiotics-unlike grass-fed dairy, which is higher in omega-3s and CLA and free from harmful residues. The addition of carrageenan, a thickening agent linked to gut inflammation and irritation, further detracts from its health profile." Sabat also points out other harmful ingredients. "Artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium are also used, both of which have been associated with gut microbiome disruption and potential carcinogenic effects in animal studies," she says. Sabat adds, "Lastly, the label includes 'natural flavours," a term that can encompass up to 100 different undisclosed chemical additives, many of which are far from natural. Together, these ingredients make Core Power far less healthy than its marketing implie"s.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Business
- New York Post
Ozempic users are hooked on this popular drink — which was just ranked the unhealthiest bottled beverage in the US right now
They're pumping protein — and guzzling sugar bombs. Fairlife's Core Power protein shakes — beloved by fitness fanatics and Ozempic users alike — have just been crowned the unhealthiest bottled beverage in America, despite their muscle-boosting reputation, according to Eat This, Not That! Shakes like these are a 'great way to start the day without having to sit down and have a full breakfast,' gushed Elise Ramer, a 42-year-old PR pro in Florida, previously reported on by The Post. Advertisement Ramer said she puts Core Power in her coffee while taking the weight-loss drug Mounjaro — since users need to focus on their protein intake due to the possible muscle loss side effect. But nutrition experts are throwing a red flag on the play. 'I put these first [as the unhealthiest bottled drink in the U.S.] because they are so highly marketed as a great source of protein and a healthy food when in reality they are a disaster to your metabolic health,' registered dietitian Mary Sabat recently told Eat This, Not That! Advertisement 3 Experts warn that protein shakes — a hit with many Ozempic users (above) — are hyped as health drinks but are actually a metabolic meltdown in a bottle. myskin – 'Core Power protein shakes may seem like a convenient post-workout drink, but a closer look at the ingredients reveals several health concerns.' The shakes are made by Fairlife, owned by Coca-Cola, and boast up to 42 grams of protein per bottle — but that muscle comes with a side of controversy. According to Sabat, it's not just about sugar. 'They use non-organic, conventional dairy, which often comes from cows fed GMO corn and soy and may contain residues of hormones and antibiotics — unlike grass-fed dairy, which is higher in omega-3s and CLA and free from harmful residues,' she told the outlet. Advertisement 'The addition of carrageenan, a thickening agent linked to gut inflammation and irritation, further detracts from its health profile.' Sabat also slammed the inclusion of artificial sweeteners like sucralose and acesulfame potassium, warning they've been 'associated with gut microbiome disruption and potential carcinogenic effects in animal studies.' 3 The shakes, churned out by Coca-Cola-owned Fairlife, pack a whopping 42 grams of protein — but that muscle boost comes with a side of scandal. And it's not just sugar, warns Sabat. Jammy Jean – She added, 'Lastly, the label includes 'natural flavors,' a term that can encompass up to 100 different undisclosed chemical additives, many of which are far from natural. Together, these ingredients make Core Power far less healthy than its marketing implies.' Advertisement That hasn't stopped the protein craze. Thanks to the Ozempic effect, these shakes are flying off shelves faster than a gym bro's tank top. Sales of protein and meal-replacement drinks surged 11.1% to a whopping $4.7 billion last year — and it's the Ozempic army leading the charge, retail tracker SPINS revealed. As The Post previously reported, Rila Global Consulting found 13% of those on GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro had consumed protein shakes in the past two years. But some experts warn that overloading on protein — especially the highly processed kind — can backfire. 3 As The Post previously reported, 13% of Ozempic and Mounjaro users have chugged protein shakes in the past two years, according to Rila Global Consulting. Tobias Arhelger – Dr. Joseph Antoun, CEO of longevity company L-Nutra, previously told The Post that too much animal protein can raise IGF-1 levels, a hormone linked to accelerated aging, cancer and diabetes. 'The goal isn't to just build muscle — it's to live long enough to use it,' he said. In the meantime, maybe stick to a protein-packed egg — and leave the mystery 'natural flavors' to the lab rats.
CNN
16-02-2025
- Business
- CNN
Coca-Cola needs to diversify. Its way in may be milk
When James Quincey became CEO of Coca-Cola in 2017, soda had broadly been in decline over its health effects. The beverage giant was embarking on an effort to diversify its reach beyond the sugary drink. A key move? Ditching the carbonation and sticking to the basics: cow milk. Launched in 2012, Fairlife — originally founded as a joint venture between Coca-Cola and wholesale dairy producer Select Milk Producers — used whimsical, minimalistic packaging that fits with the influx of niche almond, protein and even pistachio milks, outperforming large-container beverages in the dairy aisle. In 2020, Coca-Cola fully acquired Fairlife for an initial $980 million — an acquisition that has far exceeded the soda giant's expectations due in part to social media popularity in the health and wellness space. While Americans face higher food prices and a pullback in their spending, they're still drawn to Fairlife's ultra-filtered system that draws out lactose and sugar but doubles the protein. In 2022, Coca-Cola announced that Fairlife's sales surpassed $1 billion. The success is driven by Fairlife's Core Power protein shake brand, which remains a popular staple at many grocery stores and does not have many direct market-leading competitors. But in its latest earnings call last week, Coca-Cola projected some moderation of Fairlife's growth in 2025 while it builds a facility in New York and carbonated beverages still make up the overwhelming majority of sales for Coca-Cola (its competitor, Pepsi, on the other hand, leans on its Frito-Lay snack brand). And when compared to Coca-Cola's other big acquisition in the non-soda space — Costa Coffee in 2018 — Fairlife has far outpaced it. 'The expectations were never for Fairlife to be this successful, I think even for Coke,' said Kaumil Gajrawala, an analyst for finance firm Jeffries. The acquisition was structured so there would be an earn-out — meaning the amount paid will ultimately be based on the milk brand's success. In deals like this, the buyer could pay less than buying outright if they're not sure a product will be successful, Gajrawala said. The total payment for the acquisition is now looking to be $6.2 billion, plus the $980 million Coke initially paid, according to Coca-Cola's latest earnings report. That would make it among Coke's priciest acquisitions to date. 'Dairy has been tricky for Coke to get into,' Gajrawala said. 'Nothing will ever be as important as a Coke trademark, but this is a nice contributor to growth.' The North American market has shown it will invest in health, whether it's Vital Farms' free-range eggs or Fairlife's protein-dense milk. Coca-Cola entered the right category at the right time, Citi analyst Filippo Falorni told CNN. 'You had a more health-conscious consumer in the United States, and particularly with a bigger focus on protein intake over the last couple of years,' Falorni said. Protein shakes are a $6 billion market, according to Beverage Digest, a global non-alcoholic beverage industry trade publication. Grocery items in the middle-priced range are often what Americans decide to stop buying, Gajrawala said. Consumers are either looking for the lowest-priced product or are willing to pay a lot more for something that's differentiated. Fairlife, with its successful branding, has managed to pull off the latter, Gajrawala said. And it also benefits from Coca-Cola's behemoth distribution system, which Falorni said is arguably the best in the world. TikTok users frequently post themselves drinking Core Power before a workout or making a healthier morning iced coffee using Fairlife's milk. But just as quickly as items go viral on social media, they can also fall out of trend, especially in the health and wellness space. Additionally, in 2022, Fairlife and Coca-Cola agreed to a $21 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over allegations of inhumane treatment of its cows. The lawsuit claimed consumers were falsely charged a premium because Fairlife promoted well-treated cows. Last year, Fairlife broke ground on a massive production facility in New York state, but Coca-Cola 'is going to look for more categories' to expand its offerings, Falorni said. Coca-Cola is 'very focused on Fairlife because it's going very nicely. But I don't think they're going to stop there in terms of the portfolio diversification,' he said.
CNN
16-02-2025
- Business
- CNN
Coca-Cola needs to diversify. Its way in may be milk
When James Quincey became CEO of Coca-Cola in 2017, soda had broadly been in decline over its health effects. The beverage giant was embarking on an effort to diversify its reach beyond the sugary drink. A key move? Ditching the carbonation and sticking to the basics: cow milk. Launched in 2012, Fairlife — originally founded as a joint venture between Coca-Cola and wholesale dairy producer Select Milk Producers — used whimsical, minimalistic packaging that fits with the influx of niche almond, protein and even pistachio milks, outperforming large-container beverages in the dairy aisle. In 2020, Coca-Cola fully acquired Fairlife for an initial $980 million — an acquisition that has far exceeded the soda giant's expectations due in part to social media popularity in the health and wellness space. While Americans face higher food prices and a pullback in their spending, they're still drawn to Fairlife's ultra-filtered system that draws out lactose and sugar but doubles the protein. In 2022, Coca-Cola announced that Fairlife's sales surpassed $1 billion. The success is driven by Fairlife's Core Power protein shake brand, which remains a popular staple at many grocery stores and does not have many direct market-leading competitors. But in its latest earnings call last week, Coca-Cola projected some moderation of Fairlife's growth in 2025 while it builds a facility in New York and carbonated beverages still make up the overwhelming majority of sales for Coca-Cola (its competitor, Pepsi, on the other hand, leans on its Frito-Lay snack brand). And when compared to Coca-Cola's other big acquisition in the non-soda space — Costa Coffee in 2018 — Fairlife has far outpaced it. 'The expectations were never for Fairlife to be this successful, I think even for Coke,' said Kaumil Gajrawala, an analyst for finance firm Jeffries. The acquisition was structured so there would be an earn-out — meaning the amount paid will ultimately be based on the milk brand's success. In deals like this, the buyer could pay less than buying outright if they're not sure a product will be successful, Gajrawala said. The total payment for the acquisition is now looking to be $6.2 billion, plus the $980 million Coke initially paid, according to Coca-Cola's latest earnings report. That would make it among Coke's priciest acquisitions to date. 'Dairy has been tricky for Coke to get into,' Gajrawala said. 'Nothing will ever be as important as a Coke trademark, but this is a nice contributor to growth.' The North American market has shown it will invest in health, whether it's Vital Farms' free-range eggs or Fairlife's protein-dense milk. Coca-Cola entered the right category at the right time, Citi analyst Filippo Falorni told CNN. 'You had a more health-conscious consumer in the United States, and particularly with a bigger focus on protein intake over the last couple of years,' Falorni said. Protein shakes are a $6 billion market, according to Beverage Digest, a global non-alcoholic beverage industry trade publication. Grocery items in the middle-priced range are often what Americans decide to stop buying, Gajrawala said. Consumers are either looking for the lowest-priced product or are willing to pay a lot more for something that's differentiated. Fairlife, with its successful branding, has managed to pull off the latter, Gajrawala said. And it also benefits from Coca-Cola's behemoth distribution system, which Falorni said is arguably the best in the world. TikTok users frequently post themselves drinking Core Power before a workout or making a healthier morning iced coffee using Fairlife's milk. But just as quickly as items go viral on social media, they can also fall out of trend, especially in the health and wellness space. Additionally, in 2022, Fairlife and Coca-Cola agreed to a $21 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over allegations of inhumane treatment of its cows. The lawsuit claimed consumers were falsely charged a premium because Fairlife promoted well-treated cows. Last year, Fairlife broke ground on a massive production facility in New York state, but Coca-Cola 'is going to look for more categories' to expand its offerings, Falorni said. Coca-Cola is 'very focused on Fairlife because it's going very nicely. But I don't think they're going to stop there in terms of the portfolio diversification,' he said.
CNN
16-02-2025
- Business
- CNN
Coca-Cola needs to diversify. Its way in may be milk
When James Quincey became CEO of Coca-Cola in 2017, soda had broadly been in decline over its health effects. The beverage giant was embarking on an effort to diversify its reach beyond the sugary drink. A key move? Ditching the carbonation and sticking to the basics: cow milk. Launched in 2012, Fairlife — originally founded as a joint venture between Coca-Cola and wholesale dairy producer Select Milk Producers — used whimsical, minimalistic packaging that fits with the influx of niche almond, protein and even pistachio milks, outperforming large-container beverages in the dairy aisle. In 2020, Coca-Cola fully acquired Fairlife for an initial $980 million — an acquisition that has far exceeded the soda giant's expectations due in part to social media popularity in the health and wellness space. While Americans face higher food prices and a pullback in their spending, they're still drawn to Fairlife's ultra-filtered system that draws out lactose and sugar but doubles the protein. In 2022, Coca-Cola announced that Fairlife's sales surpassed $1 billion. The success is driven by Fairlife's Core Power protein shake brand, which remains a popular staple at many grocery stores and does not have many direct market-leading competitors. But in its latest earnings call last week, Coca-Cola projected some moderation of Fairlife's growth in 2025 while it builds a facility in New York and carbonated beverages still make up the overwhelming majority of sales for Coca-Cola (its competitor, Pepsi, on the other hand, leans on its Frito-Lay snack brand). And when compared to Coca-Cola's other big acquisition in the non-soda space — Costa Coffee in 2018 — Fairlife has far outpaced it. 'The expectations were never for Fairlife to be this successful, I think even for Coke,' said Kaumil Gajrawala, an analyst for finance firm Jeffries. The acquisition was structured so there would be an earn-out — meaning the amount paid will ultimately be based on the milk brand's success. In deals like this, the buyer could pay less than buying outright if they're not sure a product will be successful, Gajrawala said. The total payment for the acquisition is now looking to be $6.2 billion, plus the $980 million Coke initially paid, according to Coca-Cola's latest earnings report. That would make it among Coke's priciest acquisitions to date. 'Dairy has been tricky for Coke to get into,' Gajrawala said. 'Nothing will ever be as important as a Coke trademark, but this is a nice contributor to growth.' The North American market has shown it will invest in health, whether it's Vital Farms' free-range eggs or Fairlife's protein-dense milk. Coca-Cola entered the right category at the right time, Citi analyst Filippo Falorni told CNN. 'You had a more health-conscious consumer in the United States, and particularly with a bigger focus on protein intake over the last couple of years,' Falorni said. Protein shakes are a $6 billion market, according to Beverage Digest, a global non-alcoholic beverage industry trade publication. Grocery items in the middle-priced range are often what Americans decide to stop buying, Gajrawala said. Consumers are either looking for the lowest-priced product or are willing to pay a lot more for something that's differentiated. Fairlife, with its successful branding, has managed to pull off the latter, Gajrawala said. And it also benefits from Coca-Cola's behemoth distribution system, which Falorni said is arguably the best in the world. TikTok users frequently post themselves drinking Core Power before a workout or making a healthier morning iced coffee using Fairlife's milk. But just as quickly as items go viral on social media, they can also fall out of trend, especially in the health and wellness space. Additionally, in 2022, Fairlife and Coca-Cola agreed to a $21 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over allegations of inhumane treatment of its cows. The lawsuit claimed consumers were falsely charged a premium because Fairlife promoted well-treated cows. Last year, Fairlife broke ground on a massive production facility in New York state, but Coca-Cola 'is going to look for more categories' to expand its offerings, Falorni said. Coca-Cola is 'very focused on Fairlife because it's going very nicely. But I don't think they're going to stop there in terms of the portfolio diversification,' he said.
