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Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Health
- Buzz Feed
Gut-Healthy Prebiotic Sodas, Tested And Ranked
There are big changes happening in the soda industry with the rise of 'gut-healthy' alternatives that offer prebiotic benefits and more natural ingredients. While it used to just be that one or two brands were available, now I see these alternative sodas everywhere. Poppi was recently acquired by Pepsi, and now even Coca-Cola has its own prebiotic soda line. Pepsi also recently announced the launch of its own line of prebiotic sodas. Even with these big shifts in the industry, Diet Coke still dominates the soda zeitgeist for having a certain je ne sais quoi to it. There was even a TikTok trend last year about the divine combo of Diet Coke, Caesar salad, and French fries. My love for Diet Coke runs so deep that I don't even call it by its government name. Instead, I'll mention needing to go get a 'DC,' or will shorten this nickname even further to 'deec.' Diet Coke is a regular part of my week and how I find joy in this life. To put it simply, it's just really good. So the question to me was: Is there a 'gut healthy' soda brand out there that comes close to the satisfaction of a crisp, cool can of DC? I lined up five options to find out. Before we begin, let's start with a disclaimer. I judged these sodas purely on the drinking experience and their likeness to Diet Coke. Though I can read a label, I'm not a dietitian who can make profound comments about nutritional content. (There are also disputes about how beneficial these sodas are anyway, but that's a discussion for another time.) I'm not vilifying traditional soda or suggesting that anyone, myself included, needs to cut it out of their lives. Rather, I'm fascinated by these not-soda sodas and am curious to see how they compare to my all-time fave beverage. For my contenders, I went with colas made by the most popular and widely available 'gut-friendly,' prebiotic/probiotic soda brands. I chose the traditional cola flavors these brands carried, with the exception of SunSip, Health-Ade's prebiotic soda brand, which only carries a cherry cola. Let's break the brands down: 1. Olipop Vintage Cola ($2.49) 2. Poppi Classic Cola ($2.49)3. Slice Classic Cola ($2.29) 4. SunSip Cherry Cola ($2.49)5. Cove Classic Cola ($2.49)Side note: I love how the stacked sodas look like an incomplete cheer squad pyramid. I can just imagine Abby Lee Miller saying, 'On the bottom…' I tried every brand from the can, cold from the fridge, for optimal taste and drinking experience. You'll also see I put some of each in a glass with ice for the ✨visual ✨. I used three factors to determine my ranking, using a Diet Coke as my baseline to rank each gut-friendly soda against. The first was taste, meaning how good the soda was, how 'normal' it tasted (compared to a regular DC), and if it had an unappealing artificial taste. The second was the 'Diet Coke quality,' which is the indescribable satisfying quality that Diet Coke has. IMO, even if a soda doesn't 100% taste like a DC, it can still have some of that quality. The final factor was fizz, aka the carbonation level. One of the best parts of a Diet Coke is the crisp bubbles. Now, onto the results. Hey, you! Wanna cook 7,500+ recipes in step-by-step mode (with helpful videos) right from your phone? Download the free Tasty app right now. 5. Poppi This flavor had such a strong artificial taste that it was hard to ascertain the flavor profile outside of it. When I made an effort to focus, I noticed there was a note of lemon and a cola-like soda did have some fizz, I'll give it that. However, the flavor was largely overpowered by what I presume was the taste of Stevia — like the Stevia was the actual flavor of the soda, and the cola taste was the aftertaste. I couldn't see myself trying it again. 🥤 THE RATINGS 4. Slice Slice's soda wasn't as artificial-tasting as Poppi and had notes of cinnamon and lemon, similar to a Coke or Pepsi with a low amount of was a bit sour and also had this out-of-place taste in the background, like curry or tamarind. To quote the scene in The Sopranos when Charmaine tells Carmella she once had an affair with Tony, 'Really…it wasn't for me.' 🥤 THE RATINGS 3. SunSip I was especially curious to try this brand as the only cherry-flavored soda in the lineup. This soda had a strong artificial cherry flavor, like a cherry lollipop, that caused a puckering sensation in my mouth. The artificial taste was on and off — on some sips, I could really taste it, but in others, I almost felt like I was drinking a regular soda. The strong amount of carbonation also gave this soda that satisfying said, the soda was very concentrated with the sour cherry taste. If it had been diluted with seltzer, it probably would've been more passable for a Cherry Coke, in which case, it may have been a good alternative for either a regular Diet Coke or a Cherry Coke. 🥤 THE RATINGS 2. Cove This is a controversial second-place ranking because the soda tasted like…nothing?! I felt like I was drinking Diet Coke on a plane, or like the times I've drunk it when I've lost most of my sense of taste from a cold. From what I could taste, it had more of a Coke flavor than a Diet Coke. That said, it also didn't have any unappealing artificial taste. It also had a certain DC quality thanks to the strong carbonation. 🥤 THE RATINGS 1. Olipop Going into this taste test, Olipop was the 'gut-healthy' soda brand I was most familiar with. Though this one wasn't as good as some of the other flavors I've had (probably because it's directly trying to capture a more complex flavor), it was soda had a fruity profile, with strong notes of cinnamon and marshmallow. It also had a lemony taste, which reminded me more of Pepsi than Coke, and more of a Coke than a Diet Coke. This flavor did have a slight artificial taste, but overall, it was much better than the other three previous brands. The biggest downside for this brand was the fizz level; it's like the Olipop fizz was on half-speed. While drinking it, I sometimes wished I had a SodaStream to pump some more carbonation into it. 🥤 THE RATINGS That's all she wrote! As you can see, Diet Coke is safe from extinction. If you've tried any of these "gut-friendly" DC alternatives, let me know your favorite in the comments! For dishes that pair perfectly with a crispy Diet Coke (or Diet Coke alternative), download the free Tasty app to browse and save thousands of recipes — no subscription required.
Fast Company
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
What legacy brands can learn from the hype cycle
Back in 2015, Microsoft claimed our attention spans had dropped to eight seconds—shorter than that of a goldfish. No one's definitively proven it, but it feels about right in the age of TikTok. Ten years later, goodness knows how long we're able to hold it. It's one of the major social shifts of our lifetimes, and it's one that a new generation of start-up brands—and their investors—have jumped on. These 'dopamine' brands, such as Starface, Graza, and Poppi, provide younger generations with striking visual hits to draw them in with an instant high. Their packages, messages, and social content all pop, their drops sell out in minutes, and their fans queue virtually just to get their hands on them. Those limited drops, seasonal flavors, and unexpected collabs fuel hype and scarcity. These aren't just products; they're events. But with every dopamine hit comes a comedown, and many challenger brands are now struggling with staying power. Meanwhile the legacy brands languish on the sidelines, wondering what to make of it all as a chunk of their audience is tempted away. There's a lot to learn in creating fresh news for these classic heroes, but they shouldn't feel threatened by the dopamine gang; rather, they should see an opportunity in it. If you've got iconic assets and built emotional trust over decades, you're more than halfway there. The nudge is to deliberately disrupt yourself by bringing ideas in from the outside, while finding ways to retain what it is people love about you at the core. Packaging is a powerful touchpoint to do it. It's your shop window, your sensorial hook, your cultural signal. When you get it right, it should create not just fleeting excitement, but a deep connection that creates a lasting memory. Here's how to do dopamine design, without right. Inject hype at the edges, don't break the system Limited editions are an obvious, and often fruitful, place to start, but legacy brands can sometimes get overexcited here. Often there is a temptation to create disruption by sidelining the rule book and going crazy with the new news. When limited editions aren't rooted in what people already love about the brand, they land as lazy, insincere. They often fall flat with consumers, who see straight through it. Smart design evolves from what's already there; celebrate the core brand essence by coming from a place of authenticity, then create the disruptive newness. So, when Jaffa Cakes was developing a limited-edition flavor, they began by acknowledging the product truth: the joy is in the jammy center. To make it feel more special than the established orange, an unexpected idea came about in cola-bottle flavor. This delivered an exciting dose of 'I'm not sure that'll work' intrigue mixed with reassuring nostalgia for the consumer. Crucially, we restrained ourselves with the packaging design in responding to this. We retained the existing layout and the brand's visual consistency, while dramatizing the new story within it to create something new. It's a simple but effective technique, all too often brushed aside in favour of total 'pack takeover' disruption. Short-term impact, long-term value Limited editions from brands work best when they riff on the thing people already love about them, whether it be format, flavor, origin story, or something else. These kinds of designs don't just deliver a momentary dopamine hit. When a drop gets it right, it builds trust and respect with consumers. Moreover it builds a momentum that has a positive halo effect back into the main brand. Look at Johnnie Walker's Squid Game Limited Edition—another entry from a brand that continues to cross-pollinate categories to deliver the unexpected. Here it's bringing popular culture in to give its audience exactly what they never knew they needed. While the launch design felt dopamine, the core pack design confidently fused both brands' assets together with mutual respect and consideration. It was a wisely thought through approach and showed us that the brand can deliver both quality whisky and moments of playful humor simultaneously. The total effect of such one-offs is that the entire brand benefits from them. Collaboration should amplify, not dilute The Heinz x Absolut collaboration was a good example of how good design can multiply brand value. Its success lay in both brands celebrating their distinctive assets in tandem in the launch collateral (Heinz's silhouette and red tones, Absolut's bottle shape and stripped-back typography). The creative idea—vodka pasta sauce—was playful, but it was the campaign work and the packaging that sold the credibility, where the two brands came together in a way that felt creative and made sense for each partner. The most effective collaborations aren't necessarily about giving each brand equal space, or one giving way for the other. It's putting egos aside to create something entirely new together, the genius child of both. Legacy brands at the center of culture Legacy brands don't need to reinvent themselves to stay relevant, but they do need to stay alert to what's happening around them. Packaging is a hugely impactful area to showcase this. It is the most visceral, sensorial, and tangible touchpoint a brand can have. A good idea at the heart can be taken to the next level when form, finish, and feel are also taken into account. Legacy brands should be more confident in the strength of their assets. Changing them creatively just a little can a have a powerful outcome. Building both brands' assets through co-respect can help place a brand in the center of culture effectively enough for the audience to reappraise it on a deeper, more lasting level. It can reenergize products and brands, putting them in front of new audiences who will become the next generation of loyalists. A design that is oversaturated in dopamine can have the opposite effect, creating confusion around your brand's identity, leaving your crowd alienated and cynical. The key is to build from what people already know and love. That's what gives brands the permission to try something new on their packaging, and the credibility to be taken seriously when they do. Once you've cracked the code in an authentic way and succeeded at it, the stage is set for a future of endless creativity that people will come back for time and again. The super-early-rate deadline for Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies Awards is tonight, July 25, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
Miami Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Miami Herald
Poppi soda drinkers could be owed part of $8.9M settlement. How to file a claim
Poppi's gut health claims fell flat with some consumers, and now the prebiotic soda brand will pay nearly $9 million in refunds. The Texas-based beverage company agreed to an $8.9 million settlement to resolve claims it improperly marketed its sodas as a 'gut healthy' alternative to traditional soft drinks, according to court documents. According to its website, Poppi was born in co-founder Allison Ellsworth's kitchen, where she mixed 'fruit juices with apple cider vinegar, prebiotics, and sparkling water.' Ellsworth went from selling her drinks at farmers markets to being featured on 'Shark Tank,' thrusting her soda brand into the national spotlight. A class-action complaint accused Poppi of claiming its sodas contain 'prebiotic fiber' but not enough to 'cause any meaningful gut health benefits.' McClatchy News reached out to Poppi for comment July 25 and was awaiting a response. 'Despite Defendant's alluring 'prebiotic' marketing claims, which assure consumers, on the can, that they can 'Be Gut Happy [and] Be Gut Healthy,' as one nutritionist bluntly explained: the Products 'are basically sugared water,' which has been shown to actually harm gut health,' the complaint says. Poppi has denied any wrongdoing. Here's what to know if you're owed: Who's eligible? Anyone in the U.S. who purchased Poppi beverages of any flavor and package size for personal use between Jan. 23, 2020, and July 18, 2025, is eligible to file a claim, settlement administrators said. How do I file a claim? Claim forms can be submitted online or printed and mailed, according to the settlement website. All claims must be submitted or postmarked no later than Friday, Sept. 26. How much is the payment? Poppi drinkers who submit a valid claim will be paid as follows: 75 cents per single can $3 per four-pack$6 per eight-pack$9 per 12- or 15-pack Customers without proof of purchase can receive up to $16 per household, administrators said. Final payment amounts may be higher or lower depending on the number of claims received. When will I be paid? A hearing to finalize the settlement is set for Nov. 20 in the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of California, and payments will be disbursed within 90 days, barring any appeals, administrators said. 'If the Court does not approve the Settlement, or if the Settlement is overturned on appeal, no Class Payments will be issued,' according to the website.
CNET
5 days ago
- Health
- CNET
Pepsi Is Launching Its Own Prebiotic Soda, but Does a 'Healthy' Soda Really Exist? 6 Experts Answer
Pepsi is jumping on the prebiotic soda train, announcing that it will launch its own cola packed with prebiotics in the fall. This comes after PepsiCo bought prebiotic soda brand Poppi for $1.95 billion back in March. According to CBS News, Pepsi's own functional soda will have 5 grams of cane sugar, 3 grams of prebiotic fiber, 30 calories per serving and no artificial sweeteners. It will be available in the flavors cola and cherry vanilla. Along with the homemade healthy Coke trend and people's increasing avoidance of artificial sweeteners like aspartame, this is yet another sign that the healthy beverage movement isn't stopping anytime soon. However, the question remains: Are these "healthy sodas" that promise prebiotic fiber, low sugar and more actually healthy? This is what experts have to say. What is in prebiotic soda? Poppi Prebiotic drinks are having a hot moment. Coming alongside fast-growing brands like Poppi and Olipop, Coca-Cola launched a new prebiotic soda called Simply Pop. With five flavors based on natural ingredients, it might look like a healthy alternative to soda like Coke or Pepsi. Other brands have also rushed to enter this growing market. Those include: Wildwonder Culture Pop Turveda Mighty Pop SunSip (from the kombucha brand Health-Ade). David Clarke, a board-certified internist, gastroenterologist and president of the Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms, explains, "Emerging 'functional' sodas attempt to redefine the category. Prebiotic varieties like Poppi and Olipop incorporate ingredients such as agave inulin and chicory root fiber, which theoretically stimulate beneficial gut bacteria. These beverages often contain fewer calories -- 25 to 50 per can -- and reduced sugar content -- 4 to 7 grams -- compared to traditional sodas." However, he adds, "Nevertheless, their health benefits remain uncertain." This was underscored by a recent lawsuit brought against Poppi. In Cobbs v. Vngr Beverage LLC (US District Court for the Northern District of California, 2024), a consumer brought a class action suit against the brand. The filing says that Poppi "only contains two grams of prebiotic fiber, an amount too low to cause meaningful gut health benefits for the consumer from just one can." As Clarke explains, "Its two grams of prebiotic fiber per can fall short of the five-gram threshold required for measurable gut health improvements." Plus, these prebiotic soda options can come with drawbacks. Some contain apple cider vinegar, for example, which can be bad for your teeth due to its acidity. (While ACV can have some health benefits -- as is evidenced by the number of drinks that include it -- it's best to brush your teeth after consuming it.) Are Poppi sodas and similar brands actually healthy?Prebiotic drinks are being propped up as a healthy alternative to soda. But are they? We asked some experts if this is really a healthy soda option. Let's review some of their responses here: Anastasiia Kaliga , nutritionist and biologist at the app Luvly, answered, "It depends on what we mean by 'healthy.' Compared to traditional sodas, which are loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients, prebiotic sodas seem like a better option." , nutritionist and biologist at the app Luvly, answered, "It depends on what we mean by 'healthy.' Compared to traditional sodas, which are loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients, prebiotic sodas seem like a better option." Dr. Raphael Cuomo , a professor and biomedical scientist at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and a clinical cancer epidemiologist, weighed in. He says, "From the perspective of preventing life-threatening diseases like cancer and heart disease, the key consideration is reducing intake of sugar. Some newer sodas are formulated with lower sugar and added fiber and so are a better option than traditional sodas. However, they should not be considered a health food." , a professor and biomedical scientist at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and a clinical cancer epidemiologist, weighed in. He says, "From the perspective of preventing life-threatening diseases like cancer and heart disease, the key consideration is reducing intake of sugar. Some newer sodas are formulated with lower sugar and added fiber and so are a better option than traditional sodas. However, they should not be considered a health food." Brian Bethke, founder of Bear Maple Farms, says, "We need more research. The benefits of eating whole-food sources of prebiotics are well-known, but there is a lack of peer-reviewed studies on prebiotic sodas. Plus, some sweeteners like stevia and erythritol may impact the microbiome in ways we don't fully understand. Bottom line: It's complicated." The key issue is that what's marketed as a gut-healthy soda might not deliver the benefits you'd expect. The health benefits of prebiotics are well-documented (Health Effects and Sources of Prebiotic Dietary Fiber, 2018; Prebiotics: Definition, Types, Sources, Mechanisms, and Clinical Applications, 2019). However, many of these prebiotic soda options contain only trace amounts of these fiber-based nutrients. They really can't measure up to the benefits you get from whole-food sources of prebiotics. As Cuomo explains, "Prebiotic sodas may contribute small amounts of fiber, but they are not a primary source of meaningful prebiotic intake. A diet rich in vegetables, legumes and whole grains provides significantly greater benefits for gut health, which is linked to decreased risk of heart disease and several cancers." Dr. Amy Eloheim, a board-certified functional health practitioner, licensed holistic health practitioner and master herbalist, sums it up nicely: "A prebiotic soda can be a convenient way to support gut health, but it shouldn't be your only source of prebiotics." What experts have to say about finding healthy soda alternatives When you're looking for a healthy alternative to soda, you can keep an eye out for certain things. Amy Lee, medical nutritionist and founder of Nucific, suggests, "Read the ingredients word by word and look for buzzwords that reflect sugar. There are over 70 names for sugar that can be found in processed foods. Also, look for preservatives used to keep soda fresh and retain color to give it the desired look and a certain flavor. I personally am not a fan of artificial sweeteners but noticed a lot of that being added to replace processed sugars." Cuomo recommends avoiding artificial sweeteners altogether, along with "phosphoric acid, caramel coloring and preservatives, which may contribute to inflammation or metabolic disruption." He adds, "Consumers should prioritize low sugar content, ideally under 5 grams per serving, and check for actual fiber content." Coca-Cola launched a new prebiotic soda, Simply Pop. Coca-Cola Company Clarke adds more specificity to what you should look for if you want your healthy soda to support gut health. "Check for specific fiber types (e.g., inulin, galactooligosaccharides [GOS]) and amounts. Brands advertising gut benefits should disclose fiber content prominently, ideally exceeding 4 to 5 grams per serving." Let's distill that down into a checklist you can use as you shop for a healthy alternative to soda: Less than 5 grams of sugar Four or more grams of fiber, ideally with the specific types of fiber listed No artificial sweeteners No artificial coloring No preservatives No phosphoric acid "Prebiotic sodas can be a fun and refreshing way to support gut health, but let's keep it in perspective -- they're not a replacement for a high-fiber diet or a panacea for digestion," Kaliga says. "Enjoy them as an occasional addition to your routine, but don't rely on them as your primary strategy for improving digestion." How to make a healthy soda at homeThat prebiotic soda you were thinking about picking up might not work wonders for your gut health. If you're still searching for a better option, you can whip one up on your own. We tapped the experts to come up with some ingredients you can mix together to make a good alternative at home. Soda water Lee suggests starting with a base of soda water, to which you can add natural flavors. Since water is one of the nutrients the body critically needs, this helps your hydration levels. Clarke also points out that using unflavored sparkling water helps you avoid excess sodium and additives. Prebiotic fibers If you're looking to make a gut-healthy soda, add prebiotic fibers. Eloheim suggests chicory or acacia fiber. Cuomo also recommends chicory root and says inulin works. Clark says resistant potato starch can also mimic commercial prebiotics. If you don't have any of those specific kinds of fiber on hand, Kaliga says you can use a bit of blended fiber-rich fruit like kiwi or banana. Add enough to bring your homemade healthy soda to a meaningful amount of prebiotics. Aim for 5 grams or more. Natural sweeteners Plenty of natural sugar alternatives can sweeten your soda without harming your health. "Opt for 1 to 2 teaspoons of raw honey or maple syrup, which provide antioxidants and trace minerals without spiking glycemic levels," Clarke suggests. Citrus juice Some fresh citrus juice, like lemon or lime juice, can flavor your healthy soda and deliver benefits. Cuomo says these introduce some antioxidants, which protect your cells. Herbs and spices Eloheim suggests adding herbs and spices like cinnamon or mint "to enhance flavor and digestion." This can make your health soda taste more interesting without adding any excess sugar. Kombucha If you want to get some probiotic benefits with your prebiotic, Eloheim recommends adding a splash of kombucha to your drink. This introduces more "good" bacteria to support your gut health. Roots Several of our experts recommended adding ginger or turmeric. Cuomo says these ingredients will not only flavor your healthy soda but also deliver anti-inflammatory effects. A sample healthy soda recipe Clarke provided us with a sample recipe you can use to make a healthy alternative to soda at home. He says to combine: 8 ounces sparkling water 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon grated ginger 1 teaspoon honey A pinch of sea salt He recommends a final step for added health benefits: "Ferment for 12 to 24 hours to cultivate probiotics." The bottom line FrancescoHealthy soda brands' claims might be overhyped, especially when it comes to gut health. While prebiotic drinks can introduce some of these nutrients, they can't compete with whole foods. You might still want to enjoy prebiotic soda as a little treat -- and a healthier alternative to traditional soda. To find the best one, make sure you read the label carefully. You want to see a lot of fiber and only a little bit of sugar. But remember, as Clarke says, "Consumers should view these products as occasional supplements rather than substitutes for fiber-rich diets."
Toronto Star
5 days ago
- Health
- Toronto Star
New prebiotic Pepsi targets pop lovers seeking a gut-friendly option. Can any soda be healthy?
The makers of Pepsi are riding the wave of a recent health trend with the unveiling of a new line that claims to be a gut-friendly alternative of the beloved soda pop. PepsiCo says it's launching a new Pepsi prebiotic cola that is targeted towards those who love the classic Pepsi beverage but are looking for a version with health benefits. Prebiotic Pepsi follows the acquisition of 'gut-healthy' soda brand Poppi earlier this year.
