<h1>PepsiCo Acquires Prebiotic Soda Brand Poppi for $1.95 Billion, Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Gut Health Claims</h1> PepsiCo has acquired the prebiotic soda brand Poppi for $1.95 billion to strengthen its presence in the functional beverage market. The deal includes $300 million in anticipated cash benefits, reducing the net purchase price to $1.65 billion. The acquisition aims to expand Poppi's reach while maintaining its unique qualities. Poppi, originally developed by its co-founder in 2015, gained popularity after a rebranding following an appearance on 'Shark Tank.' Despite its success, Poppi faces a class-action lawsuit over claims about its gut health benefits.