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Coca-Cola to Revise Claim that its Tea Burns Calories in $650,000 Settlement
Bloomberg News
February 27, 2009
Coca-Cola Co. and joint-venture partner Nestle agreed to pay $650,000
in a settlement with 27 states over claims that Enviga green tea burns
calories, resulting in weight loss.
Connecticut Atty. Gen. Richard Blumenthal began an inquiry in 2007
seeking evidence that consumers who drink Enviga burn more calories
than they take in. Blumenthal, who had said the claim might be "voodoo
nutrition," led the coalition of states and the District of Columbia
in the settlement.
The companies agreed to re-label Enviga to add disclosures and disclaim
weight-loss benefits, Blumenthal said Thursday. Any marketing of Enviga
or a similar beverage that uses the terms "the calorie burner," "negative
calories" or "drink negative" must clearly disclose that the product
doesn't lead to weight loss without diet and exercise, he said.
"The Enviga lesson is that weight loss requires sound diet and exercise,
not simply a concoction of caffeine and green tea," Blumenthal said.
"Enviga's calorie-burning claims led to credibility loss more than
weight loss."
Ray Crockett, a spokesman for Atlanta-based Coca-Cola, said studies
show that caffeine combined with a green-tea antioxidant, EGCG, can
increase calorie burning. Coca-Cola introduced Enviga in the U.S.
in November 2006.
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