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FDA bans sale of Coke Zero at McDonald's outlets in Maharashtra for flouting norms

The popular Coca-Cola product contains artificial sweetener 'aspartame' but was being sold without proper packaging and disclaimers.

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The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has banned the sale of Coke Zero at McDonald outlets across the states on the basis that the quick-service restaurant (QSR) flouted packaging norms while selling the drink. 

Food and Safety Standards Regulation 2011 requires products with artificial sweeteners to carry appropriate labels. It said that McDonald's was selling Coke Zero without any packaging and sans a warning about the artificial sweetener aspartame.

While aspartame is safe within the permissible limits, it could be harmful large doses. Research has linked aspartame with cancer, headaches, depression, attention deficit disorder, and birth defects, among others.

“We have banned the sale of this drink across all McDonald’s outlets in Maharashtra with immediate effect. The drink was being served straight off the dispensing machine without any packaging or warning,” said FDA commissioner Harshdeep Kamble.

An FDA official in Kolhapur was the first one to flag the issue after an inspection. He then sent a report leading to the inspection of the other outlets where McDonald's was found flouting norms too. 

“It could lead to neural damage in those individuals with Phenylketonurics who can’t metabolise amino acids,” added Kamble.

FDA has now made it mandatory to serve Coke Zero packaged with labels like ‘Not recommended for children’, ‘Contains artificial sweetener’, and ‘not for phenylketonurics’.

“Artificial sweeteners are present in a variety of products, including Diet Coke.There are certain internationally certified limits for them,” Dr Sweta Budyal, Consultant Endocrinologist & Diabetologist(Adult & Paediatric), Fortis Hospital, Mulund, said.   

We tried to get in touch with McDonald's despite e-mails, phone calls and a visit to the McDonald's head office in Parel. 

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