For the fifth year in a row, soft drink sales are down in the U.S. A report in Beverage Digest shows the carbonated soft-drink market slipped 2.1 percent in 2009. The two big brands both fell – Coca-Cola went down 4 percent and Pepsi dropped 5.5 percent. Soft drink sales are also way down in schools.

Related posts

• News Nugget: Pepsi cuts sugary drinks from schools around the world
• News Nugget: Soft drink sales way down in schools
• News Nugget: San Francisco bans sugary drinks from vending machines
• News Nugget: New York wants to add ‘fat tax’ on soft drinks
• News Nugget: Fecal bacteria in soda fountain drinks (gross!)

A consumer watchdog has filed a class action lawsuit against the Coca-Cola Company, accusing it of making deceptive health claims about its VitaminWater drinks.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) says Coke makes claims that go beyond those allowed by the Food and Drug Administration.

VitaminWater is marketed as a healthy alternative to soda with claims it can do things like reduce the risk of chronic disease and promote healthy joints. But nutritionists at CSPI say the 33 grams of sugar in each bottle of VitaminWater do more to promote obesity, diabetes, and other health problems than the vitamins in the drinks do to perform the advertised benefits listed on the bottles.

“VitaminWater is Coke’s attempt to dress up soda in a physician’s white coat,” says CSPI litigation director Steve Gardner. “Underneath, it’s still sugar water, albeit sugar water that costs about ten bucks a gallon.”

“My advice to consumers is to get your vitamins from real food,” said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson. “If you have reason to believe you have a shortcoming of one vitamin or another, perhaps take an inexpensive supplement. But don’t seek out your vitamins in sugary soft drinks like Coke’s VitaminWater.”

No comment yet from Coke.

More information on the lawsuit over here.

Related posts

• What are the healthiest and unhealthiest cities?
• Top 8 of ‘08 – a look back at the year’s headlines in food, fitness, and fat
• The dangers of food additives and preservatives
• News Nugget: Top chains serving up childhood obesity, says CSPI
• News Nugget: Obesity, diabetes and heart disease may speed dementia

There’s new competition for making things sweeter without adding calories. Today, the Food and Drug Administration approved two versions of a new zero-calorie sweetener made from rebiana, an extract from the stevia plant. Both Coca-Cola and PepsiCo plan to use the sweetener in drinks soon – new products may be on store shelves as early as next week. Coca Cola’s version of the sweetener is called Truvia; Pepsi’s is PureVia.

Related posts

• News Nugget: Coke to sell drinks with Stevia without FDA approval
• News Nugget: Potato chips of the future in the making
• Slim-Fast recall
• News Nugget: Should the U.S. tax high-sugar drinks?
• News Nugget: New York plans “fat tax” on drinks

Coca-Cola Co. says it will start selling products made with a new zero-calorie sweetener even though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to approve it. The FDA is expected to determine the sweetener made from the herb stevia is “generally regarded as safe,” but giving the green light has taken longer than expected. PepsiCo says it will wait for the official word from the FDA.

Related posts

• News Nugget: FDA approves 2 new sweeteners
• News Nugget: New York plans “fat tax” on drinks
• News Nugget: Coke to display larger calorie information
• News Nugget: Coco-Cola to sell 90-calorie cans of pop
• Consumer group sues Coke over VitaminWater claims