Coke's spunky water pulled from UK market

Bromate flash

By Ashlee Vance in Chicago • Get more from this author

Posted in Bootnotes, 19th March 2004 20:36 GMT

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First Coca Cola's Dasani bottled water lost its spunk and then the product was completely pulled from the UK market.

Last week, we reported on Coca Cola's Swiresque online advertisement for Dasani water. A Flash animation brought up the phrase "Can't live without spunk" - something that might appeal to US audiences but surely raises questions in the minds of Brits. Since our story appeared, however, the spunk has been punked and gone missing.

Shockingly, it turns out that Dasani did contain some unwanted molecules. Tests showed the water had high levels of bromate, which is sometimes linked to increased cancer risk. Coca Cola has since recalled the product in the UK. The British press already had a field day with Dasani after learning the product was purified tap water instead of spring water.

Apparently, only the British market received the spunky versions of Dasani. Coca Cola adds a bromide derivative into water products to meet UK health laws. ®

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