ACCC requires retraction by Coke

Coca-Cola will publish corrective advertisements in newspapers across the country about its 'myth-busting' campaign following action by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

"The ACCC has accepted court-enforceable undertakings from Coca-Cola South Pacific Pty Ltd (CCSP), about statements published in Coca-Cola’s Kerry Armstrong on Motherhood & Myth-Busting advertisement," ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel said.

In particular, the advertisement used the words in relation to Coca-Cola:

• Myth. Makes you fat
• Myth. Rots your teeth
• Myth. Packed with caffeine.

On 18 October 2008 Coca-Cola published a further advertisement entitled To all our Customers which, in relation to the advertisement said "…we felt it was time to state the facts and to help you understand the truth behind Coca-Cola."

The ACCC said the advertisements had the potential to mislead consumers by representing that:

• Coca-Cola cannot contribute to weight gain and obesity
• Coca-Cola cannot contribute to tooth decay
• 250ml of the Coca-Cola Product bearing the brand Diet Coca-Cola contains one
  half of the amount of caffeine as that contained in 250ml of tea, and
• a responsible parent can include Coca-Cola in a family diet without any regard
  whatsoever to the potential for weight gain or tooth decay arising from consuming
  Coca-Cola.

The ACCC was responding to a complaint lodged jointly by the Australian Dental Association, the Obesity Policy Coalition and the Parents' Jury. Click here for their joint media release in response to the announcement, and information about the oral health risks posed by black cola drinks.