The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prohibited McDonald's from selling Coca Cola Zero across its 60 outlets in the state for violating norms of the Food Safety and Standard Regulations. The order was issued after the MNC was found selling the beverage that contains artificial sweeteners, suspected to cause health problems, without the mandatory warnings.
The FDA action came after a Kolhapur official found that the product was being sold loose to “unsuspecting clients“, including children and pregnant women. The Maharashtra FDA has prohibited McDonald's from selling Coca Cola Zero across its 60 outlets in the state. The order was issued after the MNC was found selling the beverage that contains artificial sweeteners without the mandatory warnings.
The key problem is the presence of two artificial sweeteners-aspartame and acesulfame potassium--suspected to cause obesity , insulin resistance and high BP , among other health effects. Since years of research have failed to establish the components as completely harmless, any product containing them are supposed to carry warnings. The Coke Zero that was being sold at the McDonald's outlets did not specify that the drink was not recommended for children or for phenylketonurics.
“For the latter, particularly, such a violation can be critical,“ said FDA commissioner Dr Harshdeep Kamble. “Phenylketonuria is a rare genetic disorder and those who suffer from it cannot break down phenylalanine, a component of aspartame (one of the sweeteners). Their excess intake can lead to an unusual buildup in the body . Children can suffer from serious neurological deficiencies as a result of consuming the drink unknowingly ,“ said Kamble.
Calling the contravention a “serious one“, Kamble said non-adherence of the order can lead to penalties for the company . “They can sell the Coke Zero cans like most other fast food outlets but not through dispensers,“ he said. He clarified the order won't apply to other beve rages as they don't contain artificial sugar and have necessary permissions.
The drug regulatory body found during investigations that Hardcastle Restaurants Pvt Ltd, which owns and runs McDonald's, was procuring a pre-mix from Hindustan Coca Cola Beverages. However, McDonald's was creating the final product by treating the mix with carbonated water. These sweeteners are also present in Diet Coke, said an FDA official.
A spokesperson from McDonald's (west & south) told TOI that the company adheres to all statutory requirements.“We are compliant with all applicable laws pertaining to usage of loose cups and glasses. For the time being, we have decided to follow the FDA directive.“
Hindustan Coca Cola, in its response to FDA, had said that it had all the requisite permissions to manufacture synthetic syrups containing artificial sweeteners for dispensers. The company , however, could not be reached for comments. Kamble added that both companies have an exclusive arrangement as far as the product was concerned as no other food outlet was found selling the drink though a dispenser.He said that Section 34 of the Food Safety and Standards Act empowers the commissioner to issue such a prohibition order.However, the diktat will not be applicable outside Maharashtra. The FDA, in its order, has quoted a study by the Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospi tal and Harvard Medical School, Boston, which stated that a daily consumption of diet soda increased the risk of non-hodgkins lymphoma and multiple myeloma in men by 42%. Another study quoted spoke of a link between artificial sweeteners and metabolic abnormalities.The USFDA says that no health problems have been consistently linked to aspartame use. “For people who want to avoid aspartame, the easiest way to do this is to check the labels before buying or eating foods or drinks.“
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