The Coca-Cola Company: Difference between revisions

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This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Skewing health research data===

Until 2021, Coca-Cola Co. partially was funding the pro-industry advocacy group [[International Life Sciences Institute]] (ILSI),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pulley |first1=Brett |date=13 January 2021 |title=Coca-Cola Severs Longtime Ties With Pro-Sugar Group |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-13/coca-cola-severs-longtime-ties-with-pro-sugar-industry-group |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |publisher=Bloomberg}}</ref> which was founded in 1978 by a former Coca-Cola Co. executive, alongside a rich history of employing high-level Coca-Cola Co. employees.<ref name="nytimes-2019">{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Andrew |date=16 September 2019 |title=A Shadowy Industry Group Shapes Food Policy Around the World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/health/ilsi-food-policy-india-brazil-china.html |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times}}</ref> Most notably, the organization has taken similar positions as Coca-Cola Co.'s own research and messaging when it comes to how obesity should be addressed; not by dietary changes, but solely physical activity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Anahad |date=9 August 2015 |title=Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets |url=https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets/ |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times}}</ref><!-- More to cover, check the 2nd paragraph!

Until 2021, Coca-Cola Co. partially was funding the pro-industry advocacy group [[International Life Sciences Institute]] (ILSI),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pulley |first1=Brett |date=13 January 2021 |title=Coca-Cola Severs Longtime Ties With Pro-Sugar Group |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-13/coca-cola-severs-longtime-ties-with-pro-sugar-industry-group |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |publisher=Bloomberg |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220318161329/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-13/coca-cola-severs-longtime-ties-with-pro-sugar-industry-group |archive-date=18 Mar 2022}}</ref> which was founded in 1978 by a former Coca-Cola Co. executive, alongside a rich history of employing high-level Coca-Cola Co. employees.<ref name="nytimes-2019">{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Andrew |date=16 September 2019 |title=A Shadowy Industry Group Shapes Food Policy Around the World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/health/ilsi-food-policy-india-brazil-china.html |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251101083757/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/health/ilsi-food-policy-india-brazil-china.html |archive-date=1 Nov 2025}}</ref> Most notably, the organization has taken similar positions as Coca-Cola Co.'s own research and messaging when it comes to how obesity should be addressed; not by dietary changes, but solely physical activity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Anahad |date=9 August 2015 |title=Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets |url=https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets/ |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220625193400/https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets |archive-date=25 Jun 2022}}</ref><!-- More to cover, check the 2nd paragraph!

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_Coca-Cola&wvprov=sticky-header#Marketing_issues

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===Vitamin Water Lawsuit (Jan 2009)===

In January 2009, the US consumer group the [[Center for Science in the Public Interest]] filed a class-action lawsuit against Coca-Cola.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 15, 2009 |title=Coke Sued for Fraudulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting "VitaminWater" |url=http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728104633/http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |publisher=Center for Science in the Public Interest}}</ref> The lawsuit was in regard to claims made, along with the company's flavors, of [[wikipedia:Vitamin_Water|Vitamin Water]]. Claims say that the 33 grams of sugar are more harmful than the vitamins and other additives are helpful. Coca-Cola insists the suit is "ridiculous."<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement on The glacéau vitaminwater Lawsuit |url=http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116234344/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-date=2013-01-16 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=The Coca-Cola Company}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=15 January 2009 |title=Coca-Cola sued over VitaminWater claims |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28675966 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=NBC News}}</ref>

In January 2009, the US consumer group the [[Center for Science in the Public Interest]] filed a class-action lawsuit against Coca-Cola.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 15, 2009 |title=Coke Sued for Fraudulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting "VitaminWater" |url=http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728104633/http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |publisher=Center for Science in the Public Interest}}</ref> The lawsuit was in regard to claims made, along with the company's flavors, of [[wikipedia:Vitamin_Water|Vitamin Water]]. Claims say that the 33 grams of sugar are more harmful than the vitamins and other additives are helpful. Coca-Cola insists the suit is "ridiculous."<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement on The glacéau vitaminwater Lawsuit |url=http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116234344/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-date=2013-01-16 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=The Coca-Cola Company}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=15 January 2009 |title=Coca-Cola sued over VitaminWater claims |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28675966 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=NBC News |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241208053305/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28675966 |archive-date=8 Dec 2024}}</ref>

=== Mislabeling Minute Maid products (2014) ===

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
 ===Skewing health research data===
-Until 2021, Coca-Cola Co. partially was funding the pro-industry advocacy group [[International Life Sciences Institute]] (ILSI),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pulley |first1=Brett |date=13 January 2021 |title=Coca-Cola Severs Longtime Ties With Pro-Sugar Group |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-13/coca-cola-severs-longtime-ties-with-pro-sugar-industry-group |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |publisher=Bloomberg}}</ref> which was founded in 1978 by a former Coca-Cola Co. executive, alongside a rich history of employing high-level Coca-Cola Co. employees.<ref name="nytimes-2019">{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Andrew |date=16 September 2019 |title=A Shadowy Industry Group Shapes Food Policy Around the World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/health/ilsi-food-policy-india-brazil-china.html |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times}}</ref> Most notably, the organization has taken similar positions as Coca-Cola Co.'s own research and messaging when it comes to how obesity should be addressed; not by dietary changes, but solely physical activity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Anahad |date=9 August 2015 |title=Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets |url=https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets/ |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times}}</ref><!-- More to cover, check the 2nd paragraph!
+Until 2021, Coca-Cola Co. partially was funding the pro-industry advocacy group [[International Life Sciences Institute]] (ILSI),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pulley |first1=Brett |date=13 January 2021 |title=Coca-Cola Severs Longtime Ties With Pro-Sugar Group |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-13/coca-cola-severs-longtime-ties-with-pro-sugar-industry-group |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |publisher=Bloomberg |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220318161329/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-13/coca-cola-severs-longtime-ties-with-pro-sugar-industry-group |archive-date=18 Mar 2022}}</ref> which was founded in 1978 by a former Coca-Cola Co. executive, alongside a rich history of employing high-level Coca-Cola Co. employees.<ref name="nytimes-2019">{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Andrew |date=16 September 2019 |title=A Shadowy Industry Group Shapes Food Policy Around the World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/health/ilsi-food-policy-india-brazil-china.html |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251101083757/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/health/ilsi-food-policy-india-brazil-china.html |archive-date=1 Nov 2025}}</ref> Most notably, the organization has taken similar positions as Coca-Cola Co.'s own research and messaging when it comes to how obesity should be addressed; not by dietary changes, but solely physical activity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Anahad |date=9 August 2015 |title=Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets |url=https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets/ |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20220625193400/https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets |archive-date=25 Jun 2022}}</ref><!-- More to cover, check the 2nd paragraph!
 https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_Coca-Cola&wvprov=sticky-header#Marketing_issues
@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 ===Vitamin Water Lawsuit (Jan 2009)<!-- 1:1 copy/paste from Wikipedia, needs cleaning! -->===
-In January 2009, the US consumer group the [[Center for Science in the Public Interest]] filed a class-action lawsuit against Coca-Cola.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 15, 2009 |title=Coke Sued for Fraudulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting "VitaminWater" |url=http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728104633/http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |publisher=Center for Science in the Public Interest}}</ref> The lawsuit was in regard to claims made, along with the company's flavors, of [[wikipedia:Vitamin_Water|Vitamin Water]]. Claims say that the 33&nbsp;grams of sugar are more harmful than the vitamins and other additives are helpful. Coca-Cola insists the suit is "ridiculous."<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement on The glacéau vitaminwater Lawsuit |url=http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116234344/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-date=2013-01-16 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=The Coca-Cola Company}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=15 January 2009 |title=Coca-Cola sued over VitaminWater claims |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28675966 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=NBC News}}</ref>
+In January 2009, the US consumer group the [[Center for Science in the Public Interest]] filed a class-action lawsuit against Coca-Cola.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 15, 2009 |title=Coke Sued for Fraudulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting "VitaminWater" |url=http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728104633/http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |publisher=Center for Science in the Public Interest}}</ref> The lawsuit was in regard to claims made, along with the company's flavors, of [[wikipedia:Vitamin_Water|Vitamin Water]]. Claims say that the 33&nbsp;grams of sugar are more harmful than the vitamins and other additives are helpful. Coca-Cola insists the suit is "ridiculous."<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement on The glacéau vitaminwater Lawsuit |url=http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116234344/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-date=2013-01-16 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=The Coca-Cola Company}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=15 January 2009 |title=Coca-Cola sued over VitaminWater claims |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28675966 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=NBC News |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20241208053305/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28675966 |archive-date=8 Dec 2024}}</ref>
 === Mislabeling Minute Maid products (2014)<!-- Needs proper research, reference  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POM_Wonderful_LLC_v._Coca-Cola_Co. For details --> ===