Coca-Cola Co. acknowledged on Thursday that it was the one that alerted the FDA about “low levels” of fungicide in orange juice from Coke and its competitors.

Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co. notified federal regulators after it found low levels of the fungicide carbendazim in the company’s orange juice. Coke makes both Simply Orange and Minute Maid, but the company wouldn’t say which one, if not both, contained the fungicide.

The Wall Street Journal reports that use of the fungicide is common practice among Brazilian orange juice producers, raising concerns that “most” deliveries to the U.S. could contain trace amounts of carbendazim.

“This is an industry issue that affects every company that produces products in the U.S. using orange juice from Brazil,” said Coca-Cola spokesman Dan Schafer.

However, the FDA says it has no plans to remove any orange juice from store shelves, as the levels of fungicide found in the juice are not believed to be harmful. The Environmental Protection Agency echoed the FDA’s assessment, saying that there are no health concerns with the low levels of fungicide Coca-Cola found in its orange juice.

Still, the agency has put a halt on imported shipments of orange juice in order to test for levels of the fungicide that may be harmful to consumers.

“If the agency identifies orange juice with carbendazim at levels that present a public health risk, it will alert the public and take the necessary action to ensure that the product is removed from the market,” FDA official Nega Beru said in a letter to the Juice Products Association.

[Image credit: Reuters]

Coke says it notified FDA of fungicide in orange juice is a post from: The Inquisitr

Coca-Cola moved its famous secret formula from the bank vault where it has been stored since 1925 to the World of Coca-Cola museum in downtown Atlanta. But even though the secret formula will be the centerpiece of the museum, the ingredients will remain hidden.

The Washington Post reports that Coca-Cola will display a new vault containing the recipe at the World of Coca-Cola museum. So fans won’t actually be able to see the secret formula.

CEO Muhtar Kent told employees and city and state officials said at the exhibits unveiling:

“The time has come for our secret formula to come back home.”

According to Reuters, Coca-Cola’s secret formula is making its journey to the World of Coca-Cola Museum to celebrate the company’s 125th anniversary. The exhibit will be called The Vault of the Secret Formula.

Attendees to the ribbon cutting ceremony watched a video of Kent as he placed a metal box, which supposedly contained the recipe, into a five-foot tall vault.

Coca-Cola’s secret formula has been stored at the SunTrust Bank in Atlanta for more than 86-years. This is the first time that Coca-Cola has ever removed the recipe from its well-protected location.

Do you have any interest in seeing The Vault of the Secret Formula? Have you ever been to the World of Coca-Cola Museum?

Coke fans may flock to the museum to catch a glimpse of the box containing the box that contains the company’s secret formula, but they weren’t too happy about another recent decision by Coca-Cola. Seriously, white Coke cans?

Coca-Cola Formula Goes on Display at Museum, Ingredients Remain Hidden is a post from: The Inquisitr

The red ‘Coke’ can could well be the most recognizable food or drink packaging in the world. Hence, when Coca-Cola decided to release a snow-white can for the holiday season, it seemed a recipe for catastrophe.

Sure enough, the soda giant has now withdrawn the white cans after weight-conscious customers said they kept mistaking it for Diet Coke and its almost-as-iconic white/silver can.

As people took to Twitter and Facebook to bemoan the extra sugar intake in their diet, people like James Ali, a deli owner in Atlanta, told the Wall Street Journal he had already refunded half a dozen confused customers who bought white cans in recent days.

Apparently, others did spot the new can and knew its contents, but felt regular Coke tasted different in the white cans (errr …). And some just plain disliked the change from red. Speaking to the WSJ, Coke fan Lucie Kamuda McHan said: “I understand why they are doing it, but they still could have kept them red and just painted white polar bears on them. I like the red ones better.”

Coca-Cola has always loved its Christmas packaging, though a white Coke can is a more dramatic alteration than previous festive designs.

As it happens, I really dig that subtle polar bear design, and the white cans were part of a good cause: a partnership with the World Wildlife Fund to highlight global warming’s threat to bears’ Arctic habitat. Coke is donating $3 million to conservation efforts.

Once the current billion-plus white cans are sold out, Coca-Cola is reverting back to its famous red cans.

White Coca-Cola Holiday Cans Ditched After Customers Get Confused is a post from: The Inquisitr

I just came across this and while I might not be the biggest fan of companies trying to play in the Social Media playground this effort by Coca- Cola has all the right ingredients of an idea going viral.

What Coke did was place a special vending machine in a campus common area and went about delivering happiness along with a bottle of Coke … or two … or three.

Thanks to BL Ochman for sharing this little gem.

Coke: Spreading happiness one college machine at a time is a post from: The Inquisitr

Even wished milk could be carbonated like Coke? No, neither have I, but that isn’t stopping Coca-Cola test marketing a fizzy milk drink.

Currently available in select outlets in New York, Vio is made will skimmed cow’s milk, cream, sparkling water and cane sugar and is offered in peach, mango, berry, citrus and tropical colada flavors.

According to Coca-Cola’s marketing, Vio tastes like (and we’re not making this up) “a birthday party for a polar bear.” Given Polar Bears are known for their size, the comparison isn’t that far amiss because you’ll end up as big as a polar bear if you regularly drink Vio: each bottle contains 26 grams of sugar a bottle and 1.5 grams of fat.

According to the NY Post, Vio sells for $2.50 a bottle. There’s no word yet if or when Vio will be made available in other locations.

Dear god no: Coca Cola is test marketing a fizzy milk drink is a post from: The Inquisitr

Have you been unimpressed of late with your Coca-Cola that just tastes like soda?

Coke is rolling out a bunch of fancy new fountains (Coca-Cola Freestyle) that allow you to choose from over 100 different beverage choices and flavor combinations so you’re not stuck with the plain old Classic stuff. [crochety] May I add that in my day, a Co-Cola was enough of a flavor extravaganza in and of itself and we didn’t have to sexy it up with flavor combinations? [/crochety]

The technology behind the new Coke machine was actually developed for a far more serious purpose. From Fast Company:

The “PurePour” technology was originally developed to measure extremely precise amounts of dialysis and cancer drugs. Beyond that, RFID scanners are used to match cartridges to dispensers, and the onboard computer confirms everything is in place.

The machines sport a slick touchscreen interface and offer waters, juices, teas and sparkling drinkables. And it doesn’t just offer a more nuanced experience on the consumer end- the Freestyle bleeps info back to its master constantly, transmitting sales data and preferences to Coca-Cola. Or in the event of a recall or something similar, Coke can immediately halt distribution of affected product.

I’m a dyed in the wool Pepsi drinker and remain skeptical that anything can top the orgasmic glory that is Diet Wild Cherry Pepsi. But I really want to peep one of these things in the wild. I’ll have to wait though- test markets always skip over metro New York in favor of boring places like California and Utah.

Commenters, has anyone spotted one of these things?

Bored with cola-flavored Coke? is a post from: The Inquisitr

You definitely have to admire companies that give their ad agencies free range to come up with unique campaigns. Such is the case with Coca Cola and their ad agency in Japan – Tugboat. The campaign is for their Georgia Max Coffee brand and as you can see in the photo above what they have done is wrap the inside of toilets at various Japanese ski resorts.

The only branding message in the stall is the toilet paper holder that carries the message

“Seriously kick-ass intensely sweet for the real coffee super zinging unstoppable Max! Taste-explosion!”

Like you would have time to read while trying to keep your balance.

The full size picture of the experience can be found here

hat tip to Ad of Da Month

This would scare the crap out of anyone is a post from: The Inquisitr

Coke may be it, but it isn’t an effective spermicide, according to a new study by serious doctors in white coats.

Coca-cola was used as an after-sex spermicide in America until the 1960s, and is still used by many women in third world countries today as an after-sex douche.

The Harvard research team found that Coca-Cola was only able to immobilize only 30 percent of the sperms within an hour. Ironically coca-cola douches increase the forward velocity of healthy sperm by almost 18 cm/hour, actually increasing the chances of striking a baby using the method.

The other bad news, like teeth the Coke also damages the vagina, increasing the risk of getting cavities catching sexually transmitted diseases.

Study finds Coca Cola doesn’t prevent unwanted pregnancy is a post from: The Inquisitr