Brands like Poppi and Olipop offer gut-focused sippers an alternative to high fructose corn syrup and caramel-colored additives—and Coca-Cola wants in. The soda giant recently announced Simply Pop, its first prebiotic soda, with a variety of flavors and an impressively simple and beneficial ingredient list. Here’s what’s in each can and when to expect the cans on shelves near you.
About the New Prebiotic Soda
According to Coca-Cola, each flavor in the Simply Pop line will have no added sugar—and not all prebiotic sodas can make this claim. Each drink also includes fruit juices from concentrate, 6 grams of prebiotic fiber, zinc, vitamin C, soluble corn fiber, and monk fruit extract.
“We closely monitor consumer trends and strive to meet their evolving preferences, and the changing landscape offers endless opportunities to do that,” said Coca-Cola on its official website. “We felt this growing category was not hitting all potential consumer needs and created Simply Pop as a direct response.”
Simply Pop Flavors
Coca-Cola is launching five distinct flavors, from a zesty lime twist to a juicy citrus crush. Here’s a look at the concentrated juices found in each:
- Strawberry: Includes pear, apple, cherry, strawberry, and lemon juice
- Lime: Includes pear, apple, and lime juice
- Pineapple Mango: Includes pear, apple, pineapple, and lemon juice, along with mango puree
- Fruit Punch: Includes pear, pineapple, cherry, and lemon juice
- Citrus Punch: Includes pear, apple, clarified peach, orange, and lemon juice
Are These Sodas Actually Healthy?
There is some debate on whether or not prebiotic sodas benefit your gut health. A class action lawsuit against rival brand Poppi claimed that the high sugar content in Poppi would offset any potential benefit from the small amount of prebiotic content.
While Poppi’s soda contains cane sugar, Coca-Cola says its prebiotic drinks have no added sugar at all (and Simply Pop also includes vitamin C and zinc). Poppi drinks only contain 2 grams of fiber per can; Simply Pop promises 6 grams of soluble fiber.
Each Simply Pop can is 12 ounces and retails for $2.49. If you want to try one for yourself, Coca-Cola confirmed they will be available in February at several retail locations in the West and Southeast United States, as well as Amazon.
