Date: 03-20-2008
Coca-Cola has dropped the artificial sweetener sodium cyclamate, which was banned in (article here) U.S. 39 years ago, from its Mexican drink Coke Zero. The sweetener was termed as carcinogenic after certain lab findings, and its presence in Coke Zero instigated an outcry among consumer advocates in Mexico. Hence, the company has decided to quell the protest by replacing the sweetener with two other artificial sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame-K. The new formulated drink will carry the words ‘without cyclamates’ in Spanish on its bottles and cans. Rafael Fernandez, director of communications for Coca-Cola Mexico, was quoted as saying “The formula changed because we have developed something that more approaches the original taste of Coca-Cola Classic. There was a campaign [against sodium cyclamate]; this is true, but cyclamate isn’t a problem. It’s a perfectly safe ingredient.” Sodium cyclamate is legal in more than 50 countries worldwide.
