Dr Pepper Snapple, Unilever Chided Over Green Tea Claims

WASHINGTONThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued warning letters to Dr Pepper Snapple Group and Unilever over their use of health claims to market Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale and Lipton Green Tea 100% Natural Naturally Decaffeinated green tea products. The companies have 15 days to respond.

According to the Aug. 30 FDA letter, Dr Pepper Snapple Groups statement that its Canada Dry Green Tea Ginger Ale is enhanced with 200 mg of antioxidants from green tea and vitamin C" does not comply with rules governing nutrient content claims. The warning letter also said FDA does not consider it appropriate to fortify snack foods such as carbonated beverages. The product label also does not state the identity of a reference food and the percentage of the amount of the nutrient(s) in the reference food by which the nutrient(s) in the labeled food differs, as is required for "more" nutrient content claims, the letter stated.

FDAs Aug. 23 letter to Unilever alleges the company violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act over website and product labeling claiming drinking its Lipton Green Tea 100% Natural Naturally Decaffeinated green tea product can help lower cholesterol.

The therapeutic claims on your website establish that the product is a drug because it is intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. Your Lipton Green Tea 100% Natural Naturally Decaffeinated product is not generally recognized as safe and effective for the above referenced uses and, therefore, the product is a new drug . New drugs may not be legally marketed in the U.S. without prior approval from FDA," the letter stated.

Click here to read the FDAs warning letter to Dr. Pepper Snapple Group.

Click here to read the FDAs warning letter to Unilever.