Coca-Cola files police report in China about recent rumors that its orange juice contains illegal fungicide, says it will hold perpetrators legally responsible

Nevin Barich

BEIJING , January 9, 2013 (Xinhua News Agency) – A senior Coca-Cola China executive said on Tuesday that the company has filed a police report about recent rumors that its orange juice contains illegal fungicide, and will hold the perpetrators legally responsible.

"We take the move not only to safeguard the reputation of our brand, but also to help create a fair and healthy business environment, an environment where virtue is rewarded and vice punished," said Bai Changbo, vice-president of Coca-Cola Greater China.

In recent days, report has circulated on the Internet saying that Coca-Cola China has admitted in a TV program that its orange juice products contain fungicide. The substance, called Carbendazim, is not registered in the United States.

The report said the TV program is Topics in Focus, one of the most-watched shows on China Central Television. The report supposedly warned customers not to drink any more Coca-Cola orange juice products.

According to Coca-Cola, the reports are untrue and Topics in Focus has never made any such program.

A Xinhua reporter on Tuesday contacted CCTV to ask about the program. Its news center suggested Xinhua refer to the CCTV website, where all the previous episodes of Topics in Focus have been posted.

Xinhua's reporter searched the website, but could not find anything about Carbendazim in Coca-Cola products.

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