Photo: Getty Images
Experts are warning that an ingredient included in the popular "gut-healthy" sodas being touted by celebrities may lead to digestive issues and cancer, according to the Daily Mail.
Sodas such as Poppi and Olipop, which claim to be healthy alternatives to traditional sodas and reduce inflammation while boosting good gut bacteria, contain inulin, a prebiotic fiber that helps "feed" healthy bacteria in the gut microbiome by producing short-chain fatty acids, which can improve digestion by regulating bowel movement and preventing constipation.
The ingredient is also linked to an increase risk of cancers in the liver or colon and doctors are warning that regular consumption could be dire, though they stressed that more research was needed. The warning was issued several months after Poppi, a brand that was acquired by PepsiCo for $1.95 billion, was sued for $5 million over claims that it "misled" consumers as its fiber content was too low to provide any benefits.
"Consuming grams of inulin regularly in supplements, beverages and inulin enriched foods may increase risk of cancer, potentially by dampening anti-tumor immunity," said Andrew Gewirtz, a biomedical science professor at Georgia State University, via Axios.
"The occasional can is unlikely to cause major harm. 'It's regular consumption that I'm not convinced is safe," he added.
Sales of prebiotic soft drinks spiked from $33 million in January 2022 to $777 million in January 2025, according to NielsenIQ data shared with Axios.