Coca-Cola quickly defended itself when rumours started circulating on Chinese Internet that its sugar-free drink Zero is unsuitable for human consumption.
Online articles read that the beverage contains an aspartame that is in
fact a sugar substitute, alleged to be a neurotoxin which can affect
the nervous system. The articles cite headaches, memory decline,
epilepsy, vision loss, stupor and cancer as symptoms caused by
aspartame.
But Coca-Cola China said in a statement that the rumours and articles
are groundless. Coke is quoted as saying that “In fact, more than 200
authoritative scientific researches have already proved that aspartame
has nothing to do with cancer.”
Aspartame has been the subject of controversy regarding its safety, but
it is somewhat of a relief that the World Health Organisation Expert
Committee on Food Additives, UN Food and Agriculture Organisation,
Scientific Committee on Food of the EU and health agencies of over 100
countries all acknowledge that aspartame is safe to use.
In China, aspartame is said to be a sweetener that can be used in food and drinks approved by China's Ministry of Health.