03.01.09
FDA issued a warning letter to Coca-Cola on December 10th regarding its Diet Coke Plus beverage after concluding the product is misbranded since it makes an unsubstantiated nutrient content claim. The agency said foods labeled “plus” must have at least 10% more nutrients than comparable products. FDA also added that it is inappropriate to add extra nutrients to snack foods such as carbonated beverages. The ingredient list in Diet Coke Plus includes the following added vitamins and minerals: magnesium sulfate (declared at 10% of the Daily Value for magnesium in the Nutrition Facts panel), zinc gluconate (declared at 10% of the DV for zinc), niacinamide (declared at 15% of the DV for niacin), pyridoxine hydrochloride (declared at 15% of the DV for vitamin B6), and cyanocobalamine (declared at 15% of the DV for vitamin B12). The product bears the term “Plus” as part of its name, and the principal display panel of the product label also includes the language, “Diet Coke with Vitamins & Minerals.”