Hugo Chávez Saves the Day – Bans Coke Zero
by Susan on 07/24/09 at 4:46 pm
It's a no-no in Venezuela
Recap:
Venezuela President Hugo Chávez has been making headlines from the time he took office. He has done his best to seize control over almost everything – from the oil industry to the broadcast media outlets. Now he is even dictating that Coke Zero, the no-calorie beverage produced by the Coca Cola Company, be removed from store shelves, making the unilateral decision for his own people about whether or not they should consume the soda product.
Chávez’s decision to remove Coke Zero does not appear to have anything to do with his highly inflated ego and arrogant sense of self-importance. According to Venezuela’s Health Ministry, Coke Zero was banned from store shelves because tests confirmed it contains the artificial sweetener sodium cyclamate, which has been known to have adverse health effects. The Coca Cola Company, however, disputes the claim, saying that Coke Zero products sold in Venezuela use Acesulfame-K and Aspartame as sweeteners.
Hmmm. Whom should we believe?
Even though it has been shown to be carcinogenic in tests conducted in the United States, cyclamate is not a prohibited substance in Venezuela.
“The product should be withdrawn from circulation to preserve the health of Venezuelans,” said Health Minister Jesus Mantilla, in a Reuters report.
It’s removal from Venezuelan store shelves, on face value, looks like retribution against the Coca Cola Company, who did not properly disclose sodium cyclamate as an ingredient when it received its initial health permit to begin selling the drink in April. Coke Zero was introduced to the world in 2004 as a “no-calorie” beverage, aimed mainly at the male market, where research shows that men are reluctant to consume beverages labeled “diet.”
In the U.S., the use of cyclamates has been a banned substance in human food because of health safety concerns since 1969. If it’s not good for Americans, why should it be OK for Venezeulans?
Regardless of what you may think of Hugo Chávez on a personal or political level, banning the sale of Coke Zero was probably one of the more benevolent actions he’s taken on behalf of his constituency, although, in his own mind, he probably sees his decision as a way to stick it to yet another iconic American company.
To some, his dictatorial measures are considered reprehensible. It’s yet another attack on the rights of the citizens of Venezuela, taking away their freedom of choice. Yet others may see his decision as rational, based upon factual analysis, sage advice from expert advisers, and (gulp) – genuine love for his fellow compatriots.
Even Senator John Kerry of Massachusetts commended Chávez on his progressive stand.
The Coca Cola Company used cyclamates to sweeten Coke Zero because it is cheaper than any other artificial sweetener and because … they could. They further complicated the issue by keeping it a secret.
This time they got caught. And Chávez is right.
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