FDA has accused Coca-Cola of providing wrong vitamin information on the Diet Coke Plus label. Coca-Cola however refutes this charge saying it has adhered to all necessary requirements.
Atlanta based firm Coca-Cola Co. has been informed by FDA that it has stressed wrongly on the presence of minerals and vitamins in its beverage by mislabeling the Diet Coke Plus.
According to a letter posted by the FDA on its Website on Tuesday, it is not appropriate fortifying carbonated beverages, as they are only snack foods. FDA went on to stress the point that only products containing nutrients at least ten percent more than daily reference value can use the term “plus”.
In a letter addressed to Coca-Cola, office of compliance from FDA said Diet Coke Plus did not meet the criteria for the claim regarding nutrient content and is therefore considered misbranded.
FDA will wait for fifteen days for Coca-Cola to respond to this letter of warning. Coca-Cola meanwhile reiterated that all guidelines stipulated by the FDA have been followed and the company will suitably respond to the letter in early January. Coca-Cola also categorically stated that the product will continue to remain on store shelves.
Spring of 2007 saw Coca-Cola releasing Diet Coke Plus as a beverage with no calories containing essential minerals and vitamins.
According to Scott Williamson, a spokesman from Coca-Cola, the company duly takes the issue brought forth by FDA seriously. He stressed repeatedly on the fact that having complied with regulations and policies of FDA in their beverage, Diet Coke Plus, this was not essentially a serious safety or health issue.
