Coca Cola Company and its Product Modifying Method to meet FDA standards - Essay Example

Coca Cola Company and its Product Modifying Method to meet FDA standards Of late, the consumer market has been changing gradually a factor that has been opined to the many ongoing changes in demands for certain products particularly produced by companies with a specific position in their respective position in the market. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are certain recommendations, rules, and stipulations that some companies have to follow before presenting their products into the market (Cohen, Vivian, and Sana 41). With consumers worldwide becoming more and more cautious and watchful about their health, they are choosing to eat healthy and preferably live a healthy life. This follows the fact that deadly diseases such as cancer are on the rise and experts point out that these diseases are befalling most people due to their eating habits. This aspect has seen many companies including Coca Cola seek specific ways of modifying their products in order to meet the speculations set herein by special food governing bodies, which include but not limited to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Research findings posit that Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo Inc. are currently changing the procedures followed in making some of their products such as the caramel coloring commonly used in the sodas (50). This comes following the implementation of the Californian law that forces all products that contain a particular level of carcinogens should always come with a label of cancer warning. Ideally, this enforcement comes along with some consequences since very few people would risk purchasing a product that can cause cancer unto their lives. The company’s SWOT Analysis describes all the facts regarding what it intends to have its products free of any speculations. Web, http://www.google.co.ke/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&biw=1024&bih=610&tbm=isch&tbnid=dg5-NnM39-yN4M:&imgrefurl=http://tommytoy.typepad.com/tommy-toy-pbt-consultin/branding/page/2/&docid=HIy0iWonP0H8YM&imgurl=http://tommytoy.typepad.com/.a/6a0133f3a4072c970b0167630ab61e970b-500wi&w=375&h=274&ei=vSInUf-fKsjN4QSt-YHADg&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,i:219&iact=rc&dur=214&sig=100064067000265222398&page=3&tbnh=186&tbnw=255&start=33&ndsp=18&tx=145&ty=39 Currently, Coca Cola is undergoing a series of transformations specifically in the production of its products with the aim of ensuring it meets the set standards provided by the FDA. The company is now looking into the details of most of its recipes in order to ensure that it produces beverages that are in line with the recommendations and regulations of FDA. Given that research findings opine caffeine as well as tannin mixtures with cancer related causes, people are taking a step forward towards doing away with products said to have such ingredients in their contents (59). Change of such consumer market has seen most companies head towards the verge of losing a large market base. However, in order to ensure continued profitability, Coca Cola which happens to be one of the world’s largest producer and distributor of beverage products resolve to come into terms with the FDA standards which require companies to observe health regulations and recommendations. On March 7, 2012, Coca Cola Company asserted that its use of caramel coloring in preparing its drinks has always resolved to put into consideration the necessary requirements and thus is safe. Douglas Karas, FDA spokesperson stated that FDA is working round the clock and ensuring that companies like Coca Cola and Pepsi provide their consumers with quality beverages that pose no challenge to the users. According to Beverage Digest, one of the most active industry trackers, PepsiCo and Coca Cola hold the largest percentage (90%) of beverage productions manufacturing. As such, analysts claim that they can pose the most immense crisis if at any one point ended up consuming products that have high levels of carcinogens (66). This indicates that presence of 4-methylimidazole in beverages can cause great harm to the consumers’ health just as described in the graph below. Web, http://www.google.co.ke/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&biw=1024&bih=610&tbm=isch&tbnid=CJbhhwHAJI3NXM:&imgrefurl=http://faircompetitionlaw.com/&docid=oGrsgjiaDbF4wM&imgurl=http://faircompetitionlaw.files.wordpress.com/2013/01/noncompete-and-trade-secret-cases-survey-graph-201301061.jpg&w=1157&h=624&ei=vSInUf-fKsjN4QSt-YHADg&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,i:189&iact=rc&dur=243&sig=100064067000265222398&page=3&tbnh=165&tbnw=306&start=33&ndsp=18&tx=112&ty=67 Despite the fact that research findings stated that Coca Cola and PepsiCo used certain colorings in their mixing procedures that were a threat to consumer’s health, some of the assertions appeared somehow exaggerated. Even if the FDA stipulations requires companies to adhere to the set recommendations, it is however wise to look into the issues that may arise and certainly ruin the reputation of the company (74). Findings by CSPI claimed that Coca Cola used caramel coloring that has links with cancer causing carcinogen. Although the allegations were true, it is understandable that not all products from this company contained such components. Therefore, calling up for the warning label is simply unfair and does not provide any significant grounds that all producers will adhere to the FDA recommendations and regulations. Nevertheless, with the aim of becoming loyal and truthful to its consumers which involve adhering to the set recommendations by FDA, Coca Cola and PepsiCo are currently looking into substitutes of certain colorings such as the ammonia sulfite caramel. This followed the issue that saw Coca Cola face a suit from certain consumers who claimed that this coloring contained some harmful components and the company needed to either do away with it or ban the sale of products containing it (81). With regard to aspect of trying to help reduce cases of suits caused by not adhering to FDA stipulations, Coca Cola is currently directing its suppliers towards modifying its manufacturing processes with the purpose of reducing the chemical levels of 4-methylimidazole. This follows the assertion that presence of such chemicals in beverages can cause ill-fated diseases like cancer. Coca Cola and PepsiCo have intensified scientific research into the colorings applied in the manufacture of its beverages. According to Diana Garza-Ciarlante who is a Coca Cola representative, increased researches into the ingredients used by manufacturers during the manufacture of all beverage products can help do away with all risks associated with those ingredients (90). Diana clarified that for a consumer to get the effects of the caramel coloring, he or she must drink over 1000 cans of soda in one single day. Without a doubt, drinking a thousand cans of soda a day is impossible which means that claiming that presence of the caramel coloring in Coca Cola products can lead to cancerous diseases in unfound. The amount of revenue that this company gets gives it an added advantage as it can control all its activities just as the provided graph ascertains. Web, http://www.google.co.ke/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&biw=1024&bih=610&tbm=isch&tbnid=VlO9-d1FGxcs-M:&imgrefurl=http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Coca-Cola_Bottling_Co._Consolidated_%28COKE%29&docid=nZeWeyNXUnh7wM&imgurl=http://www.wikinvest.com/images/0/04/RevenueMix.jpg&w=418&h=305&ei=vSInUf-fKsjN4QSt-YHADg&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,i:126&iact=rc&dur=271&sig=100064067000265222398&page=1&tbnh=171&tbnw=234&start=0&ndsp=17&tx=63&ty=70 It is hard for any normal human to take such a mount of sodas at such a short time. Thus, going ahead to proclaim that presence of these ingredients is harmful to humans is symbolically absurd. For the FDA and the larger American Beverage Association to impose such rules that overrule the use of the specified ingredients in the manufacture of Cola and PepsiCo products is actually absurd (110). Nevertheless, through its representatives and researchers, both of these companies are working towards implementing these policies. As of now, Coca Cola and PepsiCo are challenging the imposition of the FDA recommendations, a move that aims at reducing the risks that may befall the companies in case things go wrong. Apart from the intense research going on now, Coca Cola and PepsiCo are resolving into the use of massive campaigns aiming at creating awareness to its consumers. Given that most of its representatives believe that as much as most people are getting informed of their health safety, they are also aware of the risks that can lead them into hazardous diseases. Creation of awareness is a platform being applied by the company in order to educate consumers about the very ingredients, manufacturing processes, and/or products that can cause cancer to them (136). This comes after the American Beverage Association performed just a single test on mice and rats on a lab and concluded that these caramel colorings contained carcinogen components that cause cancer to humans. Note that, the studies were not scientific and hence could have bits of irregularities indicating that the call on labeling was unsound. The information could have some deficiencies and therefore Coca Cola and PepsiCo is currently looking into ways aimed at blocking the labeling call particularly in some states where it is already in place. The double life and existence of Coca Cola and PepsiCo brings in a substantial development that gives the company great governance over its competitors. Web, http://www.google.co.ke/imgres?um=1&hl=en&client=firefox-a&sa=N&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&biw=1024&bih=610&tbm=isch&tbnid=jfUL_QJQ9ztyYM:&imgrefurl=http://beta.fool.com/reubengbrewer/2012/12/05/the-double-life-of-the-other-cola-king/18099/&docid=KHohJ_BKkjRqIM&imgurl=http://media.ycharts.com/charts/e395ae7d4f7ed9041be8d6128ab393da.png&w=650&h=404&ei=vSInUf-fKsjN4QSt-YHADg&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,i:123&iact=rc&dur=777&sig=100064067000265222398&page=1&tbnh=171&tbnw=275&start=0&ndsp=17&tx=129&ty=51 In conclusion, it is believable that both the Food and Drug Administration and the American Beverage Association are consumers’ watchdogs and they seek to protect consumers against harmful products. However, they are not supposed to impose labeling on some products following studies that cannot be scientifically proven. The stipulations set forth by the company are substantial and without a doubt, they will see the firm reach a consensus that will have fewer risks that can cause it great losses. Particularly, presence of reasonable health requirements in this industry is actually transforming the production and distribution of beverages produced by Coca Cola and PepsiCo (178). As more and more consumers are starting to be watchful of their health and diet more than ever, it is becoming increasingly needful to produce beverages that have less or no health risks. This paper has provided descriptions on the Coca Cola Company and its methods of modifying products to meet FDA standards. Works Cited Cohen, Larry, Vivian, Cha?vez, and Sana, Chehimi. Prevention Is Primary: Strategies for Community Well-Being. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2010. Internet resource. Read More