Coke will caution consumers on caffeine in US, but not in foreign markets

We are very aware that US corporates can demonstrate a remarkable disregard for consumer protection outside their home market. Here is Coca Cola announcing that it will put caffeine information on labels of its products in the US, but not abroad.

That is unsurprising, because Coke cannot help itself to local water in the US and has to pay for it, but abroad, it just drills down, extracts water and makes commerce of it.

Here is the official word on it from Coke:

Coca-Cola to put caffeine labels on all US products

Atalanta, Feb 22 (AP) The Coca-Cola Co, the world's
largest beverage maker, said it will put caffeine content
information on the labels of all of its drink products
distributed in the United States that include the ingredient.


The Atlanta-based company yesterday said the plan was
voluntary and part of an industry initiative.


Coca-Cola said it already has included caffeine labelling
on its Full Throttle and Enviga products. It said it will roll
out the new labels on its other brands, starting with cans of
Coca-Cola Classic in May, and expanding to other brands and
packages during the remainder of the year.


The time at which the revised labels reach store shelves
will vary by brand and region as US bottlers use up existing
inventories of packaging, Coca-Cola's North America division
said in a statement.


A spokeswoman said the expanded caffeine labels will
not be placed on Coca-Cola products distributed outside the
United States.


The company said that in 2005 it introduced labelling
that provides consumers with nutrition information for a
standard eight-ounce (226-gram) serving as well as for the
total of a single-serve package.


Coca-Cola also said that it plans to market a new Diet
Coke drink containing vitamins later this year.


The zero-calorie drink, called Diet Coke Plus,
contains niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, magnesium, and zinc. It
is "an innovative product designed to meet the needs of
today's active consumers," said Coca-Cola spokesman Ben
Deutsch. (AP)