Controversy Over Coca-Cola's Advertisements For Vitamin Water

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Introduction – Equal Opportunity in Employment
This reflective paper will address several issues associated with consumer protection and product safety. First, it will discuss whether Coca Cola’s advertisements for Vitamin Water are deceptive advertising or mere promotions of its product. Next, this paper will discuss whether manufacturers have any duty to warn the public about their products or whether the law should adopt the idea of “buyer beware” so that consumers read the label. Finally, it will discuss whether Congress or the States should be more assertive about regulating products based on health issues.
Deceptive Advertising
Based on the video, the issue is whether or not Coca-Cola is participating in deceptive advertising for …show more content…

The rule associated with this issue falls under the Food and Drug Administration. According to the FDA, it has regulatory jurisdiction for a myriad of products, to include bottled water (What does the FDA regulate? n.d., para 1). In my analysis, Congress and the States are responding to pressure from consumer groups to address labeling to make the consumer more educated on the healthiness of products. According to one source, when the F.D.A. took no action on requests for ingredient labeling of fast foods, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, turned to several states who have agreed with fast-food chains to disclose ingredient information. Furthermore, a bill has also been introduced in Congress to enforce mandatory fast-food ingredient labeling nationwide (Burros, 1987, para 3). Furthermore, there appears to be confusion between Federal and State enforcement of these laws. According to Burros on fast food labeling, both the FDA and the Agriculture Department acknowledge their authority for the Federal Government to require ingredient labeling of fast foods, however, they leave enforcement to States (1987, para 9). In conclusion, the consumer has spoken through consumer groups to push both the Federal and State governments to be more assertive and better regulate and label products to educate all consumers on the ingredients and overall healthiness of