FAQs - Products & Packaging

1. What are the key visual elements of Artic Home Coke cans and Diet Coke "Holiday" cans?

On October 25, Coca-Cola announced that we would temporarily change the color of our red Coca-Cola cans to white as part of a campaign to raise awareness and funding for a cause close to our hearts -- the polar bear. These new white "Arctic Home" cans have been making their way onto store shelves over the past couple of weeks. For those consumers who are used to seeing Coke in our iconic red cans, the attached fact sheet highlights some key visual elements that clearly distinguish these new white "Arctic Home" Coke cans from our silver Diet Coke "Holiday" cans.

2. Are the bottle caps on your products recyclable?

The closures we use on bottles are 100 percent recyclable from a technical standpoint and highly recycled. They are made from high-density materials selected for their compatibility with most recycling systems. Most recyclers use a float/sink process where PET bottles sink and the closures and labels float. For this reason, and to minimize litter, we recommend that consumers recycle their beverage bottles by putting the cap back on before placing in a recycle bin. Like the PET plastic used in our bottles, there also are end markets for the material used in the caps, such as paint pails and battery casings.

3. What is the difference between Coca-Cola Zero®, Diet Coke® and Coke/Coca-Cola light®?

Coca-Cola Zero provides real Coca-Cola taste for variety-seeking consumers. Coca-Cola Zero is sweetened with a blend of low-calorie sweeteners, while Diet Coke is sweetened with aspartame. As for Coke/Coca-Cola light, in certain countries, the term "diet" is not used to describe low-calorie foods and beverages. In these countries, we offer Coke/Coca-Cola light. The sweetener blend used for Coke/Coca-Cola light is formulated for each country based on consumer preference.

4. Have you ever considered making a caffeine-free version of _______? Have you ever considered making a diet version of _______?

The decision to produce a beverage option is based on many considerations. While we may not produce a caffeine-free or diet version of every product, we do offer several caffeine-free and diet (typically labeled as diet, light or zero) choices.

Please take a look at our complete brand list. If the product you seek is listed and you reside in the U.S. or Canada, you can visit our bottler finder to find out if it is distributed in your neighborhood.

If you are located outside of the U.S. and Canada, please send us an email to obtain the appropriate contact information for the Coca-Cola bottler in your area.

5. How much caffeine is contained in _______?

For many of our brands, the nutritional information varies from one country to another. For products in the U.S., you can review nutritional information on our website. For products in other countries, please send us an email and we will reply with the requested information.

6. Is aspartame safe?

Aspartame is one of the most thoroughly studied food ingredients, with more than 200 scientific studies confirming its safety. In 1983, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved aspartame for use in carbonated beverages. In addition to the FDA, regulatory agencies in more than 100 countries have found aspartame to be safe. Aspartame does contain the amino acid phenylalanine, and, therefore, should not be consumed by people with phenylketonuria, a rare genetic condition for which infants are tested at birth in the U.S., as well as in many other countries. More information about aspartame and other sweeteners »

7. Does The Coca-Cola Company perform product testing on animals?

The Coca-Cola Company does not conduct any animal tests and does not directly fund any animal tests on its beverages. Where governmental agencies require animal tests to demonstrate ingredient safety, companies using those ingredients rely on third party testing.

The Coca-Cola Company has shared our concern regarding the ethical and humane treatment of animals with our suppliers and others in the industry. We encourage the use of alternative testing methods whenever and wherever possible and have financially supported research to develop these alternative methods.

8. Are your products safe to consume if they are in aluminum cans with liners containing BPA?

All of our products, regardless of the type of packaging used, are safe.

Independent scientists have thoroughly reviewed the data and have assured us that our beverage cans pose no public health risk. Our own scientists also have reviewed the data and are confident about our packaging safety.  In addition, the scientific body of evidence has been reviewed independently by several government regulators throughout the world.  These regulators have repeatedly stated that current levels of exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) through beverage packaging pose no health risk to the general population, including children. 

Aluminum can liners that use BPA are the industry standard and have been used safely for more than 50 years. In fact, they have improved food and beverage safety by providing protection against food-borne diseases.

A number of studies and reviews conducted in 2010 and 2011, including one study lauded by a leading endocrinologist as being "majestically scientific and cautious," support the prevailing evidence that BPA is safe for humans. Learn more about these studies.

Our top priority is to ensure the safety and quality of our products and packaging through rigorous standards that meet or exceed government requirements. If we had any concerns about the safety of our packaging, we would not use it.

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