Coke is stepping into the prebiotic soda market with a new "fruit-forward line of beverages": Simply Pop.

The new products, an extension of Coke's "Simply" line, do not have any added sugar and include 6 grams of prebiotic fiber "to support gut health," Vitamin C and Zinc to support immune function along with "25-30% real fruit juice" from concentrate.

Simply Pop will be available in "five boldly delicious flavors" including strawberry, pineapple mango, fruit punch, lime and citrus punch," the company said in a news release Tuesday. The product will be offered in 12 oz. slim cans and will begin to roll out later this month at retailers in select regions and online nationwide via Amazon Fresh. The brand will expand to additional markets nationwide throughout 2025, says Coke.

'Consumer-driven approach'

Coca-Cola Company CEO of Nutrition Becca Kerr, in a statement, said the company "took a disciplined, consumer-driven approach" for the product's development.

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"We found that consumers, especially wellness-focused Gen Z-ers and Millennials, were really interested in juice and prebiotic sodas," Kerr said in her statement. "And since many brands in this category are new, they were looking to align with names they know and trust for both quality and taste."

"This was particularly true for those curious about prebiotic sodas but who hadn't yet taken the leap," she continued. "We knew that in order to bring new drinkers into the category, we had to strike that perfect balance of innovation and trust."

Digestive health soft drinks including prebiotic sodas has boomed globally and is projected to reach $27.4 billion by 2032, according to Dataintelo, a consulting and marketing research company. Coke is the latest to join the bandwagon, which also has industry newcomers Olipop and Poppi. The company's latest product is years in the making and Olipop CEO and co-founder Ben Goodwin told CNBC in 2023 that both Coke and PepsiCo had approached them for a potential sale. Pepsi is also reportedly planning to launch its own prebiotic soda this year, according to CNBC.

What are prebiotic sodas?

The Cleveland Clinic describes prebiotic sodas "as a beverage that contains dietary fibers called prebiotics," which are not digestible and "serve as food for your microbiome, aka the trillions of good bacteria in your gut." On the other hand, probiotics, are foods and supplements that contain these good bacteria.

Olipop, also has a similar definition, describing their prebiotic soda as "a carbonated soft drink packed with prebiotic fiber to support your gut." The company says the prebiotic soda has a "delicious taste and bubbly experience" similar to regular sodas but is a "gut-friendly option for soda drinkers."

Are prebiotic sodas healthy?

Registered dietitian Chris Mohr earlier told USA TODAY that these nontraditional sodas can be a great swap if you’re craving a soda but want to make a healthier choice.

“From a flavor standpoint, as someone who doesn’t drink sodas, I do think they’re pretty comparable and significantly better for you,” Mohr says. “They’re also significantly more expensive.”

While they are better than traditional soda, they are “not miracle cures,” he says. Probiotics contain live microorganisms that increase the amount of beneficial microbes in our body, which help fight bad bacteria and keep us healthy. Prebiotics are infused with plant fibers that feed microorganisms living in our guts. But nutrition experts told The Washington Post they doubt the sodas are enough to make a significant prebiotic effect and should not be seen as a “shortcut” to get more fiber. 

Jessica Alfano, a clinical dietitian at Huntington Hospital in New York, previously told USA TODAY that while prebiotic sodas have their benefits, it is not yet known just how beneficial they can be due to limited research.

"It's definitely a newer topic of interest," the clinical dietitian said. "Unfortunately, in the medical world, we haven't found a lot of answers and research about exactly how much probiotics and prebiotics we should be intaking."

Is there a 'healthiest' soda?Not really, but here are some alternatives to consider.

Prebiotic soda company Poppi faces lawsuit

Despite the hype and popularity around these products, Poppi faces a class action lawsuit filed by a San Francisco woman named Kristin Cobbs, who said she wouldn't have bought the drinks if she knew they only contained two grams of prebiotic fiber.

The lawsuit filed in June 2024 alleges that Poppi does not live up to its promise of being “gut healthy” and that a can of Poppi soda doesn’t contain enough inulin, a type of naturally soluble fiber that supports gut health. It further accuses the company of violating California law by putting out false and misleading advertising.

Cobbs, who is suing individually and on behalf of others who bought Poppi sodas under the same assumptions she had, is seeking "restitution and all other forms of equitable monetary relief," according to the complaint.

Contributing: Clare Mulroy, Jonathan Limehouse, USA TODAY

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.