You've seen the neon bottles everywhere. From school lunchrooms to the hands of world-class athletes, Prime Hydration has basically taken over the beverage world. It’s the brainchild of Logan Paul and KSI, two guys who know exactly how to stir up a frenzy. But lately, the buzz hasn't been about the flavor or the caffeine content. It’s been about something way more invisible and a lot more concerning. People are asking: does Prime have forever chemicals?
It’s a valid question.
PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are the "forever chemicals" everyone is terrified of right now. They don't break down. They hang out in your blood. They’ve been linked to everything from thyroid issues to cancer. So, when a class-action lawsuit started making the rounds claiming Prime Hydration contained these substances, the internet naturally lost its mind.
But here’s the thing about legal filings and TikTok rumors: they often outpace the actual science.
The Lawsuit That Started It All
In 2023, a lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Elizabeth Castillo v. Prime Hydration, LLC). The core of the complaint? That Prime Hydration Grape flavor contained "forever chemicals." Specifically, the lawsuit alleged that independent testing found PFOA—a notorious type of PFAS—in the drink.
The numbers cited were tiny. We are talking about parts per trillion.
To give you an idea of how small that is, one part per trillion is roughly equivalent to a single drop of water in 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools. However, the EPA has recently become incredibly strict about these levels because PFAS accumulate over time. They don't just leave your system after a bathroom break.
Prime and Logan Paul didn't just sit back. Paul took to social media, looking visibly annoyed, to debunk the claims. He argued that the testing cited in the lawsuit was flawed and that Prime follows all FDA regulations. He basically called it a "nothing burger" designed to extort money from a successful brand.
What Does the Science Actually Say?
Is there a smoking gun? Not really.
To understand if Prime has forever chemicals, you have to look at the manufacturing process. Most beverages aren't intentionally "adding" PFAS. It’s not an ingredient like citric acid or sucralose. If it's there, it usually comes from one of two places: the water source or the packaging.
PFAS are used in the manufacturing of some plastics to help the bottles release from their molds more easily. They are also present in a staggering amount of the municipal water supply in the United States. If a bottling plant uses local water and their filtration system isn't specifically designed to catch PFAS, those chemicals end up in the bottle.
- PFOA and PFOS: These are the big bads of the PFAS family.
- Bioaccumulation: This is why even small amounts matter; your body keeps them.
- The Grape Flavor Mystery: Interestingly, the lawsuit specifically targeted the Grape flavor. Why? No one is entirely sure if there’s something specific to the purple dye or that specific production run.
Independent labs have had mixed results when testing various energy and sports drinks. It’s honestly a bit of a Wild West out there. While the lawsuit against Prime created massive headlines, there hasn't been a widespread, peer-reviewed study confirming that Prime is any "dirtier" than its competitors like Gatorade or BodyArmor.
Why Everyone Is Freaking Out
Parents are the ones driving this conversation.
If you have a ten-year-old, you know Prime is basically currency in middle school. The concern is that children’s bodies are much more sensitive to endocrine disruptors. PFAS mimic hormones. They can mess with development.
📖 Related: What Should I Eat on Ozempic? What Your Doctor Probably Didn't Mention
Logan Paul’s defense centered on the fact that Prime’s manufacturing partners are top-tier and follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). He claimed that the lawsuit was based on a "single study" that hadn't been replicated. In the world of litigation, anyone can file a suit. Proving it is a whole different beast.
Honestly, the "forever chemicals" tag is a PR nightmare for any brand. Once that bell is rung, you can't un-ring it. Even if Prime wins the lawsuit or it gets dismissed—which often happens in these class-action cases—the association stays in the consumer's mind.
The Problem With Regulation
The FDA and the EPA are currently playing catch-up. For decades, PFAS were just part of modern life. They were in our non-stick pans, our raincoats, and our food wrappers.
Now, the EPA is setting limits near zero for certain PFAS in drinking water. This puts beverage companies in a tough spot. If the water coming out of the tap already has 4 parts per trillion of PFOA, and the company uses that water to make Prime, then yes, Prime has forever chemicals. But so does the tap water you're using to brush your teeth.
It’s a systemic issue, not just a "Prime" issue.
Does Prime Have Forever Chemicals? The Nuance
We can't say with 100% certainty that every bottle of Prime is PFAS-free. No company can truly say that about any bottled drink unless they are testing every single batch with high-sensitivity equipment.
However, there is currently no definitive, government-backed evidence that Prime Hydration is dangerously contaminated. The lawsuit is an allegation. In the legal world, an allegation is just a claim until a judge or jury says otherwise.
What we do know is that Prime contains:
- Filtered water
- Coconut water (10%)
- Electrolytes
- B Vitamins
- Sucralose and Acesulfame Potassium (Artificial sweeteners)
If you’re worried about health, the artificial sweeteners and the high potassium-to-sodium ratio in a "sports" drink are arguably more immediate concerns for the average athlete than the trace amounts of PFAS alleged in a lawsuit.
The Competition and the Context
Is Prime being singled out? Probably.
When you’re the biggest, loudest brand on the block, you have a target on your back. Gatorade has faced its own share of scrutiny over dyes and sugar content for decades. Prime’s meteoric rise made it an easy mark for class-action attorneys.
If you look at the landscape of "forever chemicals" in consumer goods, you'll find them in everything from yoga pants to contact lenses. This doesn't excuse Prime if they do have elevated levels, but it provides context. We are living in a world where these chemicals are ubiquitous.
Actionable Steps for Concerned Consumers
If you’re staring at a bottle of Ice Pop Prime and wondering if you should pour it down the drain, here is how to handle the "forever chemical" anxiety.
1. Check for Updates on the Castillo v. Prime Hydration Case
Legal battles move slowly. Follow the court dockets or reputable news outlets for news of a dismissal or a settlement. A settlement often doesn't mean "guilty," it just means the company wants the headache to go away. A dismissal usually means the evidence was too thin to proceed.
2. Focus on the Total Load
Instead of obsessing over one drink, look at your overall exposure. Use a high-quality water filter at home that is certified to remove PFAS (like those using activated carbon or reverse osmosis). If you reduce your exposure from your primary water source, an occasional Prime isn't going to be the deciding factor in your long-term health.
3. Demand Transparency
Use your power as a consumer. Tag the brand. Ask for their third-party testing results regarding heavy metals and PFAS. Brands that are confident in their purity will often eventually release "Certificates of Analysis" (COAs) to pacify the public.
4. Consider the Ingredients List
Regardless of PFAS, Prime is a processed beverage. It uses synthetic sweeteners. If your goal is pure health, nothing beats plain, filtered water with a pinch of sea salt and a squeeze of lemon.
5. Don't Panic Over "Trace" Amounts
Science is getting better at detecting smaller and smaller things. Just because we can detect something doesn't always mean it's at a level that causes immediate harm. Contextualize the parts-per-trillion data with the rest of your environmental exposure.
The "forever chemicals" conversation isn't going away. Whether it's Prime, your favorite sparkling water, or the fish you bought at the market, PFAS are a reality of the 21st century. The best defense is being informed and choosing brands that prioritize rigorous, transparent testing. While the jury is still out—literally—on Prime, staying skeptical but balanced is the smartest move you can make.
What Happens Next?
We wait.
The legal system will eventually determine if the claims in the Prime lawsuit have merit or if they were based on faulty data. In the meantime, Prime continues to sell millions of bottles. If the company is smart, they are currently tightening their supply chain and ensuring their water filtration is second to none.
For you, the consumer, the choice remains a personal calculation of risk and reward. If the flavor and the "hype" are worth the uncertainty of a pending lawsuit, keep drinking. If you prefer to play it safe, stick to glass-bottled water or home-filtered tap until more data comes out.
The reality of "forever chemicals" is that they are a marathon, not a sprint. One bottle won't change your life, but a lifetime of exposure to contaminated sources might. Stay curious and keep an eye on the lab reports.
Next Steps for Your Health:
- Investigate your local water report to see PFAS levels in your area.
- Look for "PFAS-free" certifications on reusable water bottles.
- Monitor the FDA's "Total Diet Study" for updates on chemicals in the US food supply.