7-Up Will Stop Adding Vitamin E, Touting Antioxidant Benefits Of Sodas

Anyone banking on getting all those fresh vitamins and antioxidants from a daily dose of 7-Up will have to look elsewhere, like in actual fruits instead of the pictures of them on cans. Dr. Pepper Snapple Group has agreed to stop adding vitamin E and not make claims that the drinks have antioxidants.

It’s all part of an agreement settling a lawsuit brought on behalf of a California man by the Center for Science in the Public Interest. At the heart of the issue is the company’s practice of adding a bit of vitamin E into the regular and diet Cherry Antioxidant, Mixed Berry Antioxidant and Pomegranate Antioxidant products.

The CSPI didn’t like the images of berries and pomegranates on the soda labels, because it said that made it look like the antioxidant benefits were coming from actual fruit instead of the added vitamin E, reports the Los Angeles Times.

“Soda is not a health food, and should not be marketed as a healthy source of antioxidants or other nutrients,” Steve Gardner, litigation director at CSPI, said in a statement. “It’s to the credit of Dr Pepper Snapple Group that it carefully considered these concerns, and worked collaboratively to resolve the dispute without further litigation. The end result is a big plus for consumers.”

7-Up maker agrees to stop adding vitamin E, touting health benefits [Los Angeles Times]

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