Coca-Cola insisted its products were safe to drink after Taiwan refused the import of Coke Zero ingredients from Shanghai, saying they contained a banned preservative.

Coke preservative banned in Taiwan, legal in mainland

零度可乐原液被指防腐剂超标 辩称在华添加合法

Coca-Cola insisted its products were safe to drink after Taiwan refused the import of Coke Zero ingredients from Shanghai, saying they contained a banned preservative.

Responding to the allegations Sunday, the beverage giant said its drinks were safe and in compliance with mainland food safety law, which permits the use of methyl para-hydroxybenzoate as a food additive.

Coca Cola said the chemical is a widely used, acceptable additive in food and drink.

It said the Coke Zero ingredients were transported to Taiwan by mistake, and its products in Taiwan do not include the preservative.

Taiwan has banned the additive because it may lead to stomach upsets, inflammation of the skin and higher female hormone levels.

Taiwan had also detected the overuse of benzoic and hexadienic acid as preservatives in the ingredients. Both are permitted as acceptable additives in food and drink.

Coca-Cola said the batch of ingredients was for use in fast food restaurants like McDonald's and would not be used in bottled drinks sold in stores.

Zhai Mei, a Coca-Cola Co. official, said the sample tested in Taiwan was concentrated ingredients, and the percentage of the preservatives would be much lower when diluted.

来自上海公司的零度可口可乐原液，在台湾被检出了防腐剂“对羟基苯甲酸甲酯”。昨日，可口可乐公司称该防腐剂在内地是安全的。

可口可乐中国公司称此次台湾涉及的防腐剂是中国大陆食品法律法规所认可的安全添加剂之一。

公司称该防腐剂被广泛接受并可安全使用于食品及饮料类。

公司解释该批原液是不小心误送到台湾的，在台湾销售的产品中不包括该防腐剂。

如果长期大量食用对羟基苯甲酸甲酯，可能会造成肠胃不适，皮肤发炎和产生女性荷尔蒙。

此次在原液中查出另外2种防腐剂“苯甲酸”、“己二烯酸”。苯甲酸是运用广泛的防腐剂，己二烯酸是经国家批准的。

可口可乐公司称，此次被查出有问题的产品是用于现调机里面，比如麦当劳等快餐店所销售的杯装饮料产品，而并非一般超市销售的瓶装饮料。

可口可乐中国区公关事务总监翟嵋表示，台湾检测的样本是未稀释的浓缩原液，而最终销售的产品稀释后是完全安全的。