CSPI Steps Up Actions Against Enviga

WASHINGTONThe Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) May 21, alleging Coca-Cola and Nestle are engaged in false and misleading advertising for their green-tea soda, Enviga. The FTC complaint follows a separate lawsuit CSPI filed in U.S. District Court in February against the companies on the same grounds.

Coca-Cola and Nestle launched Enviga in late 2006, positioning the product as a sparkling green tea with calcium and caffeine. Product marketing notes the ingredients are proven to invigorate your metabolism helping you burn more calories, although it adds the increase in metabolism increases calorie burning more than the amount of calories in the product. The companies did fund a study, published in the February 2007 Obesity, that found the product did have a very small effect in increasing energy expenditure.

In the FTC complaint, CSPI urges the agency to enjoin further advertising regarding the role of Enviga as a weight-loss product, require corrective advertising and fine the companies.

INSIDER contacted Enviga regarding CSPI's latest filing, and received a statement from spokesman Ray Crockett: This is another effort by CSPI to ignore the broad science that supports Enviga's claim to gently boost metabolism to burn calories. CSPI has sound bites. We have sound science. Enviga is not positioned as a weight loss product, but in combination with a sensible diet and regular exercise, it is a small step that can help maintain a healthy lifestyle.