Four best-selling brands of coconut water in China were recently exposed for fraudulence. Testing by a European inspection agency revealed that all four products contained added external water or sugar. The news immediately sparked public outcry, with industry insiders disclosing that adulterating pure coconut water is an open secret within the industry.
Reports from various mainland Chinese media outlets, including “21st Century Economic Herald,” have been questioning the authenticity of the popular coconut water brands since the beginning of 2025. Brands like IF (Yi Fu), Hema’s own-brand coconut water, LightUp coconut water, and Jiaguoyuan coconut water, all marketed as “100% coconut water,” were sent for testing at a European inspection agency earlier this year. The results showed that all four products tested positive for added external water or sugar.
It is reported that the European inspection agency utilized stable isotope fingerprinting technology for testing, likened to a “DNA paternity test” for coconut water. By analyzing the hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios, external water additions could be determined, while carbon isotope testing could identify foreign sugar sources.
The presence of maltodextrin signals in the oligosaccharide fingerprint pattern raised concern. A nutritionist interviewed by “21st Century Economic Herald” stated that maltodextrin should not exist in pure natural coconut water, as it is a byproduct of starch broken down by industrial enzymes, indicating the presence of artificially cheap syrup.
In response to the testing results from the European agency, IF Coconut Water Company released a statement on March 4th on their official Weibo account, asserting that their 100% coconut water products contain no added external sugar, water, or artificial flavors, with sugar content solely derived from natural coconuts. They provided four pieces of evidence to support their claim, including negative results for oligosaccharides/syrup markers, carbon isotope ratios conforming to European Juice Association standards, sugar proportion matching natural coconut water, and a clean laboratory test indicating no adulteration.
The discrepancy on whether coconut water is being adulterated stems from all coconut water products adhering to the GB/T 31121-2014 “General Standard for Fruit and Vegetable Juices and Beverages” mandated by the Chinese government. This standard primarily focuses on food safety inspections, such as microbial levels, illegal additives like preservatives or sweeteners, lacking the ability to differentiate water and sugar sources in coconut water. This limitation allows some brands to dismiss fraud allegations by claiming compliance with the national standard.
Furthermore, judging by the selling price of coconut water, a liter of pure coconut water is priced around 9.9 Chinese yuan, which is insufficient to cover production costs. On March 18th, “Golden Corner Finance” under Guangzhou Whale Plus Network Technology Co., Ltd. pointed out that one young coconut typically yields only 200-300 milliliters of coconut water, necessitating consumption of 3-5 coconuts for a liter of product. The retail price for a single young coconut is mostly over 10 yuan, with raw material costs already reaching 30-50 yuan.
This cost boundary is unavoidable for any food enterprise.
Industry sources revealed the emergence of standardized “recipe services” in the upstream supply chain, with varying proportions of pure coconut water at 10%, 30%, and 50%. This practice has become an open secret within the industry.
Public data illustrates that pure coconut water has low calories and sugar content, making it a preferred alternative to sugar-laden beverages. It is rich in electrolytes, vitamins, and minerals, with potassium playing a crucial role in regulating heart and blood pressure. Sodium, calcium and magnesium are also essential minerals for maintaining bodily functions, making coconut water a popular choice in recent years.