Consumers who bought Poppi prebiotic soda in between January 23, 2020 and July 18, 2025 still have a few days before the September 26, 2025 deadline to file claims for their part of the $8.9 million class action settlement. The case indeed is about how they claim that the popular sparkling drink manufacturer misleadingly marketed its products as gut healthy, with no sufficient scientific backing in support of those claims.
Background on the lawsuit
In May 2024, the certification of the class action commenced when plaintiff Kristin Cobbs filed suit against VNGR Beverage LLC, previous owner of Poppi, claiming they have engaged in false advertising. This centered mostly on their marketing claims of Poppi as being good for gut health (e.g., “Be Gut Happy. Be Gut Healthy.” and “Pre-Biotics for a Healthy Gut” on can).
According to the lawsuit, every Poppi can contain only two grams of prebiotic fiber, in the form of agave insulin. Plaintiffs argued that such amounts are “far too low to cause any substantive gut health benefits” from just consuming a can. It has been alleged that a consumer would have to drink over four cans of Poppi every single day for up to 21 days to receive any “benefit” from the prebiotic fiber, but this would also lead to the intake of huge amounts of sugar that would “cancel out most, if not all, of the purported health benefits”.
Scientific evidence behind the claims
Nutrition experts have weighed in on the current controversy surrounding prebiotic sodas, like Poppi; indeed, each can contains just approximately two grams of inulin, a prebiotic fiber feeding the beneficial gut bacteria. Registered dietitians, however, suggest that in most cases, effective prebiotic consumption requires “closer to 3-10 grams of prebiotic fibers a day” for meaningful alteration of gut microbiome.
The beverage industry has witnessed explosive growth in products made with inulin, due mainly to the fact that this fiber is sweet-tasting and allows more sugar to be removed from the products as a whole. Whereas traditional sodas typically contain about 40 grams of sugar, Poppi has only about 5 grams; no single food or beverage solution can suffice for gut health, experts underscore.
Settlement details and eligibility
VNGR Beverage LLC has agreed to pay a total of $8.9 million to settle the case without that admission of wrongdoing. This settlement covers consumers who bought Poppi beverages in any flavor and package size for home consumption in the United States during the claim period.
The amounts will vary based on purchasing history, and participants must demonstrate proof of purchase. Those with such documentation could see as much as $0.75 for each single can, $3 for a four-pack, $6 for an eight-pack, and $9 for a twelve-pack or fifteen-pack. Consumers without proof of purchase must limit their claims to a maximum of $16 per household, whereas the minimum for any claims approved is $5 per household.
How to file a claim
Claimants can file claims either online through poppisettlement.com, the official settlement website, or by mailing in a completed form to the settlement administrator within the deadline for both types of submission is September 26, 2025, and must be postmarked by that date. Mailed claims must be addressed to: In re VNGR Beverage LLC Litigation Settlement Administrator, P.O. Box 301134, Los Angeles, CA 90030-1134.
There are clear claim forms available through the settlement website mentioned above, along with some frequently asked questions which will serve to guide potential eligible consumer claimants through the process. Multiple claims from the same household will be treated as one claim for purposes of settlement.
Final approval and payment timeline
A final hearing on approval shall take place on November 20, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California. Judge Haywood S. Gilliam Jr. presiding over this judgment on whether the proposed settlement is fair, just, and sufficient, along with requests for attorneys’ fees and service awards to plaintiffs.
If the court approves the settlement and no appeals are filed, payments will be disbursed within 90 days after the settlement becomes final. The payment amount may fluctuate depending on the total number of approved claims and administrative costs deducted from the settlement fund.
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