Make Every Drop Matter - Newsletter Issue 5

We often receive questions from consumers related to rumours and misinformation
they have heard about our products or The Coca-Cola Company. The majority of
these are simply untrue while others have been exaggerated.

In each newsletter we will be shining the spotlight on the facts and putting to rest
many of these 'urban legends' once and for all.

We encourage you to email us with any questions you may have.

RUMOUR:
The caffeine in soft drinks give people a 'speedy high' and also keeps them addicted so they drink more and more soft drinks.

REALITY:
The caffeine in most soft drinks such as Coca-Cola, diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero is in actuality about one third of the level found in the same amount of coffee and one-half of what's in tea. Caffeine is used for the bitter taste it adds to the complex flavour of some soft drinks, and has been used for more than 100 years in many recipes.

Caffeine is one of the most studied food and beverage ingredients, with centuries of safe use. Regulatory agencies throughout the world including Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.K. Food Standards Agency consider the appropriate use of caffeine in food to be safe.

Caffeine is considered a mild stimulant but the World Health Organisation says it is wrong to compare caffeine intake to drug addiction. Some people who have consumed large quantities of products with caffeine on a regular basis and then suddenly reduce their intake substantially have reported experiencing temporary symptoms such as headaches, irritability, and nervousness lasting over a two- or three-day period. Because of the small amount of caffeine used in most soft drinks, it is unlikely that such side effects would occur when stopping soft drink consumption.

If you wish to avoid caffeine, The Coca-Cola Company offers a wide variety of caffeine-free drink options to choose from including caffeine-free cola and other sparkling drinks, juices, waters and sports drinks.