Coke Zero ad in calorie claim banned

A television advert for Coke Zero has been banned for potentially misleading viewers about the amount of exercise needed to burn off the calories in a can of regular Coca-Cola.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Jul 2013, 01:01 BST

Suggestions for burning off the 139 calories in can of Coca-Cola included 25 minutes of dog walking, 10 minutes of dancing and 75 seconds of laughing out loud, with a plus sign in between each idea.

Further text then stated: “But if today you don’t feel like doing it... have a Coke with zero calories,” with the ad showing a can of Coke Zero.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Ten viewers complained that the individual activities would not be sufficient to “negate the effects” of drinking Coca-Cola.

Coca-Cola said the ad used “universally recognised mathematical signs” to show the activities had to be done in combination. It argued the ad raised awareness of the calorie content of Coca-Cola and the importance of active lifestyles.