'Coke made in Mexico has lead' - California State Attorney General and LA DA

maurice_clayton@hotmail.c · medicine forum beginner Joined: 14 Jan 2006 Posts: 18

'Coke made in Mexico has lead'

Published: Thursday, 18 May, 2006, 11:23 AM Doha Time

LOS ANGELES: The state of California and the city of Los Angeles sued
drinks giant Coca-Cola Co on Tuesday claiming Coke made in Mexico
contains lead.

The lawsuit claims that elevated levels of lead have been detected in
the paint used to decorate the outside of glass Coca-Cola bottles, as
well as in the fizzy drink itself.

"The contents of the bottles of Mexican Coke also frequently contain
elevated lead levels, which is likely due to the lead in the paint
decorations contaminating the beverage during processing at the Mexican
facilities where the soft drinks are manufactured and bottled," the
lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court by California
attorney general Bill Lockyer and Los Angeles city attorney Rocky
Delgadillo.

"Millions of bottles of this product have been handled and consumed
by Californians over the past four years without any warning of the
danger they pose," the court papers said.

Coca-Cola said in a statement that it would "vigorously defend
itself" against the "outlandish allegations".

"All Coca-Cola beverages, including those made in Mexico, are safe
and comply with all laws," said Ray Steed, a Coca-Cola vice president
of quality and technical services.

The suit alleges that Mexican-bottled Coca-Cola is sold in large
volumes in California and that company officials knew that consumers
were being exposed to unsafe levels of lead from it.

The Mexican-bottled version of the leading soft drink is sweeter than
its US counterpart, and is imported to feed demand from the huge
Mexican population in California, the suit says.

Lockyer and Delgadillo reached an accord with PepsiCo in April under
which the main Coca-Cola competitor agreed to take steps to prevent
lead-contaminated bottles from being distributed in the western state,
according to the lawsuit. - AFP

"Toxic Soft Drinks: Legislators, State Agencies, and School Boards
Should Ban Benzene, Formaldehyde And Pesticides in Soft Drinks Sold On
School Property -- And Get The Lead Out
http://www.schoolpouringrights.com

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