POM Wonderful

POM Wonderful, LLC

Company type	Privately held company
Industry	Food and beverage
Founded	2002 (2002)
Founder	Stewart Resnick, Lynda Rae Resnick
Headquarters	Los Angeles , United States
Area served	United States
Products	Pomegranate-based products (juices, arils, teas)
Parent	The Wonderful Company

POM Wonderful, LLC is a privately held enterprise that markets a namesake line of pomegranate-based products, including juices, arils, and teas. Established in 2002 by billionaire business figures Stewart and Lynda Rae Resnick, the company functions as a division of The Wonderful Company, which oversees an array of food brands.

Products

The company's primary offering is pomegranate juice, presented in its signature "double-bulb" bottle design featuring the POM logo where the letter "O" is stylized as a heart. Alongside pure pomegranate juice, the brand markets mixed fruit juices combining pomegranate with flavors such as blueberry, cranberry, cherry, mango, or tangerine. Their product line also includes bottled teas and fresh pomegranate arils.

In 2017, POM Wonderful broadened its distribution network through the acquisition of Ruby Fresh, a supplier specializing in pomegranates.

The fruit

The term "POM Wonderful" is linked to the "Wonderful" variety of pomegranate predominantly cultivated in California's San Joaquin Valley. This cultivar leads the state’s commercial production due to its tender seeds, high moisture content, and unique taste profile suited for juicing purposes. The company procures fruit both from its own orchards and other regional growers, applying proprietary extraction techniques at its processing plants to manufacture its assortment of pomegranate products.

FTC cease and desist order

On February 23, 2010, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter to POM Wonderful concerning promotional claims for their product POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice that categorized it as a drug. The FDA objected to labeling statements such as being "full of antioxidants called phytochemicals" and possessing "uniquely high levels of powerful antioxidants," citing a lack of scientifically verified nutrient content values required for food items.

The agency clarified that terms like "antioxidants" and "phytochemicals" do not meet nutrient labeling standards because these compounds in pomegranate juice have not been conclusively linked to defined physiological effects in humans. The FDA underscored that any item marketed with claims to cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent disease must comply with the stringent drug approval process.

In September 2010, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lodged a complaint against POM Wonderful for making "false and unsubstantiated claims" about preventing or treating heart disease, prostate cancer, and erectile dysfunction. POM responded by asserting the accuracy of its claims and expressed readiness to cooperate with regulatory authorities.

On May 22, 2012, Chief Administrative Law Judge Michael Chappell determined that POM's assertions were deceptive and imposed a 20-year cease and desist order. The decision highlighted insufficient scientific support for claims related to erectile dysfunction treatment or prevention and prohibited misleading health benefit representations in marketing materials.

Nevertheless, the judge accepted POM's position that FDA pre-approval demands would be overly burdensome and that exhaustive double-blind, randomized clinical trials were not obligatory.

In January 2015, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld most provisions of the FTC’s order, concluding that POM’s advertisements misrepresented scientific evidence concerning health benefits tied to specific diseases.

By May 2016, both FTC rulings and federal court decisions reinforced restrictions preventing POM from making health-related claims in advertising. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review this judgment. FTC Chairwoman Edith Ramirez lauded the outcome as affirming the necessity for solid scientific proof backing health assertions in food and supplement marketing campaigns.

Minute Maid legal dispute

Between 2008 and 2014, POM engaged in legal action against Minute Maid, a subsidiary of The Coca-Cola Company, regarding the Minute Maid Pomegranate Blueberry Flavored Blend, which consisted of merely 0.3% pomegranate juice and 99.4% apple juice. The lawsuit argued that the product’s labeling was deceptive. In June 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court determined that claims of false advertising under the Lanham Act could move forward against Coca-Cola despite existing FDCA regulations. Industry experts anticipated extended court battles due to the financial and reputational harm POM Wonderful suffered from the Minute Maid beverage.

The Greatest Movie Ever Sold

In the 2011 documentary POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold, POM Wonderful along with its products, leadership team, and owner Lynda Resnick were prominently featured. The film examined marketing tactics and product placement within media content. POM contributed one million dollars to secure "above-the-title" credit in the movie’s billing.