Coca-Cola in Autralia ran this advert on October 11th 2008.
Coke claimed that it was a “myth” that Coke made children fat or caused their teeth to rot using celebrity endorsements.
And they soon after gave wrong data regarding Cokes content of caffeine.
The powerful Australian Competition and Consumer Commission on Thursday ordered Coke to correct its claims.
Coke agreed to make corrective advertizing. See the corrective advertizing here.
The company for a period of 3 years, will also ensure that it will not make the claims that:
- that consumption of Coca-Cola cannot contribute to weight gain unless that claim can be substantiated;
- that consumption of Coca-Cola cannot contribute to tooth decay or that tooth decay is declining globally, unless the particular claim made can be substantiated;
- that 250ml of the Coca-Cola Product bearing the brand name “Diet Coca-Cola” contains only one half of the amount of caffeine as that contained in a cup of tea, without further qualification, unless that claim can be substantiated.
This case was commented in an editorial of The Lancet. And Watchdog orders Coca-Cola to correct ‘teeth-rotting myth’ advert in The Telegraph and Food industry ‘denying links to health problems’ says The Lancet. And the official ruling from ACCC