ATLANTA (Legal Newsline) - Enviga, the calorie-burning drink that was the subject of a settlement Thursday, was never promoted as a weight-loss product, a spokesman for Coca-Cola said.
Ray Crockett made the comments in response to the wave of press releases issued by several state attorneys general who participated in 28-state agreement. The attorneys general alleged that Coca-Cola and Nestle were being less than forthcoming about the green tea's role in weight loss.
"Contrary to the AGs' allegation, we have never marketed Enviga as a weight loss product," Crockett said.
"We maintain, as we always have, that Enviga burns calories but by itself is not a guaranteed weight loss solution. Weight loss requires regular exercise and a reduced calorie diet."
A release issued by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal criticized the scientific findings made by the companies regarding the drink. Drinking three cans in a day would increase calorie burning by up to 100 calories per day, a study said.
Blumenthal called the results "limited" because the study lasted only three days and consisted of a small group of healthy adults under the age of 35. He also said the was no weight loss evidence.
"(W)e provided the AGs with a broad range of scientific studies to support our claim, not just a single study," Crockett said.
The settlement also requires that in any marketing of Enviga or a similar drink that uses the terms "the calorie burner," "negative calories" or "drink negative," or makes any claims that consumers will burn calories by drinking Enviga there must be a clear and conspicuous disclosure that the product does not produce weight loss without diet and exercise.
Crockett said some of the additional language required is already on the cans.
The back of the can says:
-Three cans per day of Enviga have been shown to increase calorie burning by 60-100 calories in healthy normal weight 18-35 year olds.
-Enviga burns calories but is not by itself a guaranteed weight loss solution.
-Remember, weight loss requires a reduced calorie diet and regular exercise. Individual results may vary. Drinking more than three cans per day will not have an additional effect.
Other states participating in the agreement are: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington and the District of Columbia.
The companies agreed to pay $650,000 to the states.
From Legal Newsline: Reach John O'Brien by e-mail at john@legalnewsline.com.