More consumer calls for transparency
21st September 2007 by Alex Briggs
In a food safety environment that is being increasingly driven by consumer awareness and outcry, soft drink manufacturers are taking steps to assure consumers that they are reducing additives in their products.
This Foodqualitynews.com article
A recent Food Standards Agency (FSA) report stated:
“eating or drinking certain mixes of additives together with the preservative sodium benzoate, could be linked to a negative effect on children’s behaviour.”
The British Soft Drinks Association (BSDA) responded after a meeting with the FSA yesterday, stating:
“The BDSA can confirm that the vast majority of products produced by our members and enjoyed by young children do not include the colours identified in the study,” the group stated. “The industry is progressively removing the colours concerned from the products it produces for young children.”
In light of recent food safety scares, Coca-Cola was quick to point out that the recent report did not indicate that there was a safety issue:
“It is important to recognise that the Southampton study does not suggest there is a safety issue with the use of these additives,” the spokesperson stated.
“However, we continue to evolve our products to meet the needs of British consumers, and recognise the trend for more natural products and ingredients.”
Brands are all too aware of reputational risk and the dangers of being percieved as having products that are unsafe for the consumer. The issue of reputational risk has again brought the supply chains of global brands under the spotlight.
It will be interesting to see how major brands address an issue that is not likely to go away on its own.
