Venezuela bans Coke Zero

Here’s a reversal: A business opportunity has opened up for smugglers interested in getting Coke into a South American country.

But we’re not talking cocaine –- it’s Coke Zero that has been banned in Venezuela.

Perhaps chunky Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was jealous of trim folks who favored the no-calorie drink, rolled out in 2005 by Coca-Cola Co., and introduced in Venezuela in April. But the official reason, according to the Venezuelan government's news agency, is that health minister Jesus Mantilla contends the beverage, known officially as Coca-Cola Zero, contains a harmful ingredient.

“The product should be withdrawn from circulation to preserve the health of Venezuelans,” Mantilla said Wednesday. In ordering all Coke Zero out of the country, Mantilla didn't specify which ingredient was objectionable.

Coca-Cola's Venezuelan operation put out a statement saying that Coke Zero "doesn't have any components that can be harmful to people's health," but began pulling the drinks today. Coke Zero is bottled by Coca-Cola Femsa, which is based in Mexico.

So keep an eye out for folks buying crates of Coke Zero. They might be getting ready for a foray down south.

-- David Colker and Nancy Rivera Brooks

Comments

[Obtuse]

Probably based on erroneous info about Aspartane; if you google it, you will find multiple web sites saying it's responsible for everything from cancer to obesity.

[BungalowGirl]

Diet Coke is sweetened with aspartame, but Coke Zero is sweetened with sucralose, also known as Splenda. Splenda causes gastric distress in some people who use it. My guess would be that that's the ingredient they're objecting to.

[Arvin]

This is a huge courageous and smart move by a country who thinks about the good health of its citizens. If iAspartane is they key ingredient they find objectionable then they know well the many side-effects that are not disclosed in this country. One side-effects not fully studied is that it causes brain seizures.

[A Rothman]

This is for Obtuse. I started drinking low cal drinks sweetened with artificial sweeteners to cut down on my love for soda. Within six months, I had developed symptoms very similar to Irritable Bowel Syndrome. That means alternating bouts of abdominal cramps, constipation, diarrhea. My gastroenterologist said that some people are more sensitive to sugar than others. These hyper-sweet products wreak havoc with my intestines. Everywhere I go now, I need to know the location of the nearest restroom. This condition is not FUN. These products may not be dangerous, but can cause problems. Consume at your own risk.

[Roland]

Cola Zero does contain Cyclamate in several Latin countries but not in the USA because it is banned by FDA. In the USA the Cola Zero does contain aspartame (Cyclamate is cheaper than aspartame by the way). So, banning cola zero makes perfect sense until they remove cyclamate. Coca-Cola should have some social responsibility and not just look for the profit.

[shredder]

Geez
Venezuela of all places makes healines again by bucking one of the biggest and most powerful companies in the world.
Putting the health of its citizens ahead of corporate greed by pulling this one type of Coke is a grandstand play and a brazen move yet so sensible that it makes one wonder why can't we have leaders like that?

[Guy in a Suit]

Your suggestion as to why Chavez chose to ban this beverage is disrespectful and wrong. He is the leader of a nation and, whether misguided or not, is merely trying to protect his own people.

[msn2wolf]

I live in Venezuela and I don't even drink Coke Zero at all, but I can tell you for a fact than Mantilla doesn't even know why is he banning Coke Zero for. This decision doesn't have anything to do with Venezuelans health. Its just another government's PR stunt to sway the nation's attention away from the real economic and health (AN1H1 virus epidemic) issues.
I'm against corporate greediness as much as the next guy but when a government takes a ruling like this, without chance for discussion or explanation, that's not concern its fascism.

[The Bell]

America has a "Diet" food and drink problem as large as, larger than, any other regional drug problem. Millions of people shovel "sugar free" stuff into themselves by the gallon without the faintest clue about what manner of chemical waste is actually in it. They obviously look and feel rotten most of the time but still go on doing it. They are oblivious to the environmental damage the production of "Diet" stuff causes and to the manifest feudal arrogance, even violence, inherent in mass "Diet" food & beverage production and its relentless peddling.

Americans take Zero action, nor do their mainstream Diet Political representatives. It is left up to faraway lands to take the lead. Today, it's Venezuela. Tomorrow, Haiti and India. Rather the same goes for war crimes...

Flippant journalists and Diet Apologists make sly jokes about anyone who is repulsed by the phenomenon. Then they wonder why nobody's buying their Diet News any more.

[Liz Applegate, PhD UC Davis Nutrition Department]

The Venezuelan government owes the consumers an explanation rather than stating Coke Zero has "harmful ingredients." Why withdraw a product that affords people a low-calorie beverage for those looking to reduce added sugars or for diabetics and others who must control their carbohydrate intake? One can only guess the reason but if as some readers are presuming it has to do with the sweeteners used in this beverage. Coke Zero is sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame K. Both of these non-caloric sweeteners has been deemed safe with extensive scientific research to back up their safety. This is why both our Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization considers these sweeteners safe for our use. Millions world wide enjoy beverages sweetened with both of these ingredients. As a college instructor at UC Davis, I urge students to review the scientific research before making conclusions. Apparently the Venezuelan government did not.

[neil robertson]

The last June 15th comment may be well intentioned though not well researched. I agree that students should inquire to the best of their ability. The ingredients are listed on the can in Australia so the following is a link to further those inquiries, including links to research ingredients:
http://thezeromovement.org/coke_zero_ingredients.html
I hope this passes censorship, it's only fair since the above comment reads like a coke zero testimonial from a recognized nutritionalist/educator with a PhD and is likely to be taken seriously by many readers.
I should have been dead a long time ago (terminal cancer 1 yr) and most likely would have been if I had listened to the system nutritionalists. My wife helped cut out everything that feeds tumors and years later I'm still here ignoring mainstream advice and staying healthy.
PS. Nothing worse than the GMO corn syrup in the sweetened drinks for at risk consumers.

[N.C.]

Also in response to the U.C. Davis nutritional scientist - if people have diabetes and want to cut down their carbohydrate and sugar intake, what is wrong with drinking water or unsweetened beverages? Do people actually NEED sodas stuffed with either high fructose corn syrup or artificial chemical sweetners to get through the day? The simplest answer is no, we absolutely do not.

Also, I would be more inclined to trust the claims of industry, university scientists, and the government regarding what is and isn't safe to eat if they were not all so heavily scented with Eau Du Conflict of Interest.