FACT-CHECK: Did the Chinese Government Impose a Ban on Consumption of Coca-Cola Products?

FACT-CHECK: Did the Chinese Government Impose a Ban on Consumption of Coca-Cola Products?

CLAIM: There is a widely circulated WhatsApp message claiming that the Chinese government has imposed a ban on the consumption of Coca-Cola products in China.

FULL-TEXT: The message wherein the claim was made reads, “CHINA BANNED COCA-COLA FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION AND CLASSIFIED IT AS CLEANING MATERIAL.

“In *China*, Coca-Cola will be sold as a sewage cleaner, and the Coca-Cola soft drink produced by the American Coca-Cola Company will be transferred according to the decision of the Chinese Central Committee for Food Quality into the category of sanitary liquids recommended for cleaning pipes… 

“The reason for this strict decision is scientific research on the content of the drink and its effect on human health… Based on these data, the Authority reached conclusions about the danger of soft drinks to human life and health, which led to a decision to immediately withdraw Coca-Cola from all grocery stores in the Chinese country ????????…”

VERIFICATION: An online search conducted by PRNigeria discovered a report by the Economic Times that the Chinese Government banned sales of soft drinks made by Coca-Cola and two flavours of Procter and Gamble’s Pringles potato crisps due to fears they contained harmful substances.

China’s quality control watchdog reported on its website that 593 food items imported were unpalatable for consumption after traces of injurious and harmful substances in them.

In 2012, Coca-Cola apologised to the Chinese government admitting that some of its drinks contained chlorine.

The President of the US beverage giants in China and South Korea branches, David G Brooks David said that customers and distributors who had contaminated drinks could return them to the company to claim refund.

According to a five-year-old article, China has a serious and growing obesity problem: 42.3% of Chinese adults were overweight or obese in 2011, up from 20.5% in 1991. Its 1.4 billion people constitute Coca-Cola’s third-largest market by volume.

Coca-Cola said it recognised the health problems caused by too much sugar and was working on ways to reduce the calories in its drinks around the world. 

Coca-Cola initially gained popularity in China in 1927, but when Mao Zedong assumed power in 1949, it, along with other Western imports, faced a ban. The beverage made a comeback in 1979, and despite many Chinese not having tasted it, it eventually gained traction. Today, China stands as Coca-Cola’s third-largest market behind the US and Mexico.

Contact with a Nigerian in China

PRNigeria contacted Lawan Dahiru Dede, a Nigerian student studying Oil and Gas Well Engineering at Liaoning Petrochemical University, via WhatsApp to inquire about the consumption of Coca-Cola in China.

Dede affirmed, “Coca-Cola is widely embraced in China and holds a significant market presence. It is a favoured beverage among the Chinese population, available for purchase in various establishments such as shops, supermarkets, and restaurants throughout the country.

“In both bustling cities and more remote areas, Coca-Cola is easily accessible to the Chinese people. Virtually all restaurants and hotels in China include Coca-Cola in their beverage offerings, catering to the preferences of locals and visitors alike.

“As for the claim that Coca-Cola is classified as a cleaning material in most places in China, I want to clarify that this is inaccurate. Coca-Cola is primarily acknowledged and sold as a beverage in China, with no widespread classification as a cleaning material.

“The beverage is appreciated across the country for its taste and refreshment, and its marketing and distribution focus on its role as a drink. While individuals may explore unconventional uses for Coca-Cola, it is not officially designated or promoted as a cleaning product in China.”

CONCLUSION: PRNigeria‘s investigation  revealed that the government of China has not officially designated any product, including Coca-Cola, as a cleaning material, nor was it banned for consumption in the country. 

PRNigeria therefore concludes that the claim that the Chinese government enforced a ban on the consumption of Coca-Cola products within its borders is unfounded and FALSE. 

By PRNigeria