Coke BUSTED

Stand by for fullpage corrective advertisements from CocaCola to correct its controversial "Motherhood & Myth-Busting" ads featuring actor Kerry Armstrong, star of 'Lantana' and Sea Change.

Armstrong's wholesome motherly image was clearly capitalised upon to create a "kiddy-safe"" effect for Coke. The full page national advertisements said that Coke didn't make children fat, didn't rot their teeth and wasn't loaded with caffeine.

"Now that I've found out what's myth and what isn't, it's good to know that our family can continue to enjoy one of our favourite drinks," Armstrong raved.

"My boys now call me Mum, the Myth Buster!"

The ACCC had seriously serious words to say:

"Coke's messages were totally unacceptable, creating an impression which is likely to mislead that Coca-Cola cannot contribute to weight gain, obesity and tooth decay," the ACCC's chairman, Graeme Samuel, said.

"[The ads] also had the potential to mislead parents about the potential consequences of consuming Coca-Cola."

Today, Coca-Cola South Pacific gave the ACCC court-enforceable undertakings to publish corrective advertisements in The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian, The Courier Mail, the Adelaide Advertiser, The West Australian, and the Hobart Mercury, as well as on the company's own website.

The correct levels of caffeine for Coca-Cola, Diet Coca-Cola and Coca-Cola Zero must be included in the corrective advertisements, the ACCC ruled, because of the false claims in the original campaign that the soft drink contained the same amount of caffeine as tea brewed from leaves or bags.

From SMH