Coca-Cola, NBC refute FCCPC’s misleading product labelling allegation

The management of Coca-Cola System, comprising Coca-Cola Nigeria and its bottling partner, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) Limited, has refuted the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission’s (FCCPC) alleged misleading product labelling in Nigeria.

The FCCPC had issued its final regulatory order on Coca-Cola and NBC over alleged misleading trade descriptions, unfair marketing tactics which, the commission said, violated Sections 116 and 124 (1) of the FCCPC Act.

The FCCPC, in a statement on Thursday, August 1, 2024, said the companies continued to mislead consumers into believing that Coca-Cola’s “Original Taste, Less Sugar” variant as one and the same, as well as unchanged, when “in actual fact, same had changed”.

The commission added that its investigations, which commenced in 2019, revealed that the variant was different, differently formulated, and not the same as their otherwise “classic, or “Original Taste”.

FCCPC warns Coca-Cola, NBC over misleading products labelling

Reacting via a statement made available to The Star on Sunday, August 4, Coca-Cola noted: “We provide clear, accessible nutrition information on our packaging in line with national regulatory requirements and is committed to transparency for consumers.

“Our priority is safeguarding consumer interests, and we will continue to work constructively with the government on this matter.

“We strongly believe that the Coca‑Cola System in Nigeria has complied with all regulations and look forward to the opportunity to bring this topic to closure.”

The Star