May 2008
Pom Wonderful takes aim at a pomegranate rival
Pomegranate juice, packed with healthful antioxidants, is such a hot product that it has not only flown off store shelves
but also landed in a courtroom. Pom Wonderful, the leading manufacturer of the juice, has accused competitor Purely Juice
of mixing juices and passing the result off as purely pomegranate. In July 2007, a California court refused Pom's request
for an injunction to keep Purely Juice from marketing its products.
A trial is set for April. Purely Juice has denied the charges. But the pomegranate wars don't end there, because Pom has accused other brands of doing the same thing. No other lawsuits had been filed at press time.
It's hard to know who is right, even with testing, since existing methodology is not conclusive. What we do know is that pomegranate juice may offer some health benefits, but it can also interact with some medications, including ACE inhibitors and antihypertensive drugs. So check with your doctor before drinking pomegranate juice if you're taking prescription drugs.
A trial is set for April. Purely Juice has denied the charges. But the pomegranate wars don't end there, because Pom has accused other brands of doing the same thing. No other lawsuits had been filed at press time.
It's hard to know who is right, even with testing, since existing methodology is not conclusive. What we do know is that pomegranate juice may offer some health benefits, but it can also interact with some medications, including ACE inhibitors and antihypertensive drugs. So check with your doctor before drinking pomegranate juice if you're taking prescription drugs.
