June 12, 2009
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's Health Ministry says it has banned Coca-Cola Zero because it contains an artificial sweetener allegedly harmful to the health.
The ministry claimed in a statement on Friday that tests show the no-calorie soft drink contains sodium cyclamate.
Coca-Cola Co.'s use of the sweetener in Coca-Cola Zero has met with resistance elsewhere in Latin America. The U.S. prohibits the use of cyclamates in human food because of health safety concerns.
But a spokeswoman for the company's local affiliate says Coca-Cola Zero in Venezuela does not contain cyclamates or other harmful ingredients.
Rosy Alvarez said Thursday that the company is nevertheless complying with the order and halting production.
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