FDA frowns on diet cola labeling

Atlanta, United States, December 23: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) posted a warning letter chastising Coca-Cola, for misleading nutritional claims about its Diet Coke Plus.

The no-calorie soft drink labeled as containing minerals and vitamins has been brought to task by the agency for its illegal health claims.

The FDA takes exception to word ‘plus’ in the drink and considers it “misbranded … because the product makes a nutrient content claim but does not meet the criteria to make the claim.” The agency said that ‘plus’ denotes food enriched with 10 percent more of daily food intake for nutrient that is standard. The drink contains 15 percent of the FDA recommended vitamin B12 and 10 percent magnesium.

Roberta Wagner, director at the Center of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition wrote in the letter the FDA does not consider it “appropriate to fortify snack foods such as carbonated beverages.”

The FDA has notified the world’s largest soft drink maker to rectify the violations at the earliest.

In reply to the letter, Scott Williamson, a Coca-Cola North America spokesman, said that though they had no immediate plans to change its labeling, they shall pay heed to the serious issues raised by the FDA.

However he clarified that the drink “does not involve any health or safety issues, and we believe the label on Diet Coke Plus complies with FDA policies and regulations." He further declared that the company intends to provide a detailed response to the FDA early next year.

The product Diet Coke Plus had been launched in March 2007, in which the company described it as "a sparkling, calorie-free beverage with vitamins and minerals," including a good source of vitamins B3, B6, B12, and the minerals zinc and magnesium.