Chavez Bans Coke Zero in Venezuela

by Spence Cooper on 11/06/09 at 8:36 am

Coca-Cola Zero

Earlier this year, Chavez seized control of US-owned pasta producer, Cargill. He’s nationalized the oil service companies, and threatened action against Pfizer, the U.S. drug company. Now Chavez has banned Coke Zero and instructed his Health Minister to remove Coke Zero from shelves until his government investigates the ingredients.

“The product should be withdrawn from circulation to preserve the health of Venezuelans,” Health Minister Jesus Mantilla said in comments reported by the government’s news agency by Reuters. Mantilla didn’t specify exactly what health risks Coke Zero posed to the population.

“Coca Cola Zero is made under the highest quality standards around the world and meets the sanitary requirements demanded by the laws of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” the company said in a joint statement with its local bottling company.

The Coke Zero ban could be related to labor problems Coke had last year when former Venezuelan workers protested Coke bottling plants in demand of back-pay.