FDA Finds Fault With Diet Coke Plus’s “Misbranded” Label & Nutrition Claims

It's a given that diet soda isn't a healthy drink.

But the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has finally woken up.

The governmental agency — which allows nutrient-lacking, potentially harmful diet drinks on the market in the first place — is now berating Coca-Cola's new Diet Coke Plus because it's "misbranded."

The governmental agency, which posted a warning letter on its website, finds fault with the soda company's use of the word "Plus" as part of its name and label. What's more, Diet Coke Plus doesn't meet the FDA's criteria to make a nutrient content claim.

I generally don't applaud FDA actions — after all, I'm nowhere near a fan of synthetic, nutrient-lacking diet drinks containing aspartame, Splenda, etc. — but this time I'm behind the FDA for its smart move to berate Diet Coke Plus for being marketed as "a good source of vitamins B3, B6, and B12 and the minerals zinc and magnesium."

It's about time the FDA called Coca-Cola to task for boldly claiming on its website that each 8-ounce serving of the soft drink "provides 15% of your RDI for niacin and vitamins B6 and B12, and 10% for zinc and magnesium."

Anyhow, I appreciate the FDA's stand that it's just not "appropriate to fortify snack foods such as carbonated beverages."

Let's call soft drinks what they are — nutrient lacking. Besides, can your body even process these so-called added nutrients?

In fact, one expert tells me that "the phosphoric acid and pH alone would prevent ANY absorption whatsoever" of these nutrients. Besides, the expert adds, "the vitamins or minerals are pure synthetics."

Coca-Cola now has has 15 days to correct its violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Thanks to WebMD, Scientific American and the OC Weekly for their interesting stories about this.

Incidentally, my diet soda days have long gone bye-bye, and after doing research about artificial sweeteners for my book SUGAR SHOCK!, I now religiously steer clear of the stuff. Just give me some water and some fresh vegetables and fruits and supplements if I want extra B vitamins and magnesium.