JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Legal Newsline) - Coca-Cola tricks customers into thinking Powerade has much more electrolytes than competitors, a class action lawsuit says.
In an April 1 lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, John Bowden has accused The Coca-Cola Company of misleading consumers about the nutritional content of its Powerade sports drink.
Bowden alleges that Coca-Cola falsely claims Powerade contains "50% more electrolytes* vs the leading sports drink." The asterisk leads shoppers to the back, where it states per 20 oz. of Powerade there are 400 mg of sodium and 130 mg of potassium, compared 270 and 80, respectively, in a "leading sports drink."
While technically true, this claim is deemed misleading as it does not comply with the requirements set by the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and the Food Safety Act (FSA).
According to these laws, a claim such as "more" can only be made if it "contains at least 10 percent more of the (Recommended Dietary Intake) for vitamins or minerals or of the DRV for protein, dietary fiber, or potassium," the suit says.
The sodium and potassium levels in Powerade don't rise to the 10% RDI amounts, the suit says.
William Wright of West Palm Beach represents the plaintiff.