Health

Coke Zero Banned in Venezuela

by Jordan Yerman | June 11, 2009 at 06:49 am

1108 views | 30 Recommendations | 5 comments

Venezuelan Health Minister Jesus Mantilla has stated that Coke Zero will be banned in Venezuela, although he failed to state exactly why.

The Venezuelan government is in the process of nationalizing many of the nation's industries, and President Hugo Chavez has long been a vocal opponenet of American "imperialism". Coca Cola is as ubiquitous a symbol of America as one can hope to find abroad, so it's difficult to see the ban of Coke Zero as anything but political.

"The product should be withdrawn from circulation to preserve the health of Venezuelans," the minister said in comments reported by the government's news agency.

Mr Mantilla did not say what the specific problem with Coke Zero was.

Coca-Cola said it would stop production of the drink in the country, but also added that Coke Zero contained no harmful products.

0 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

Uwe Paschen

at 07:15 on June 11th, 2009

Why ban Coke Zero and not all Coke products?

Barbara McPherson

at 09:24 on June 11th, 2009

Maybe Coke Zero contains aspartame. It's been linked with several serious health problems. I wonder if Hugo has banned Sweet n Low too.

Roberto Alvarez-Galloso

at 09:50 on June 11th, 2009

This is ridiculous. If people want to drink Coke Zero, they should have the right to. Of course when I lived in Venezuela in the 1970's, I did not drink Coca Cola but preferred the local orange sodas.

Alida Antonia Cornelius

at 03:34 on June 27th, 2009

Maybe they are banning it because it contains aspartame...are other similar products banned with that ingredient?

Bonnie Troino (not verified)

at 12:42 on July 2nd, 2009

I have been comsuming aspartame for years and I am sixty years old and still kicking without any problems...if you are going to get a disease your going to get it no matter what....there is nothing you can do about it...if it's going to happen it will...