MEXICO – The Federal Consumer Attorney’s Office (PROFECO) in Mexico is set to withdraw some soft drink brands from the market, due to non-compliance, mainly in terms of labeling.
The announcement was made by the head of the institution, Ricardo Sheffield, who in an interview with the newspaper El Universal highlighted some of the conclusions of the study carried out by PROFECO on 46 soft drinks.
Of the 46 soft drinks analyzed by PROFECO laboratory, 15 were without calories, one was low in calories, as well as 8 with added sugars, and 22 that have sugars with non-caloric sweeteners.
The analysis gave the agency a clear mind to withdraw the brands that do not comply with the provisions of the Mexican standard.
In addition, the agency said the reasons for the withdrawal of soft drinks and sugary drinks, the false declaration that they contain juice, or that they present false legends or misleading slogans stand out.
The soft drinks that will be withdrawn are Sidral Aga, Jarritos, Kas Naranja, Free life, Lacroix, Sisi, among others.
Other soft drinks that do not comply with the norm and that were voluntarily withdrawn from the market are Jumex Naranjada Frutzzo, Ameyal, and Zing Naranja, which declare a higher content than what they really have, above the tolerance limits of the norm.
In the case of Sidral Aga, the technicians from the Attorney General’s Office detected that it only contains 1% apple juice, when its label declares 20%.
For Jarritos, the study showed that it is the soft drink with the highest sweetener and not precisely sugar but high fructose corn syrup, which suppresses the feeling of satiety. In addition, the historic slogan that has accompanied them for decades (How good they are!) is not susceptible to verification, so it cannot be used.
Meanwhile, Kas Naranja declares that it has an “intense citrus flavor”, which could not be verified either; in the case of Free life, it contains the legends “with natural extract” and “100% natural”, which could not be proven either.
Lacroix soft drink presents its information is written in English, which contravenes Mexican labeling regulations while Sisi does not state the content of the acesulfame k sweetener exactly.
In addition, PROFECO warns that soft drinks that should not be consumed daily include Barrilitos in their two-liter presentation, as they contain high fructose syrup.
Chaparritas in its 250 ml presentation is also on the list because of the invert sugar syrup present in it, and Señorial sangria, which also contains high fructose syrup.
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