Special dietary requirements in the spotlight

At Coca‑Cola we aim to meet the everyday demands of different diets and lifestyles. We have easy-to-read nutrition and ingredients labels on all our drinks to ensure you can make informed choices to meet your individual needs. Here we look at how our soft drinks can meet some of the different dietary needs we are asked about.

Can you drink Coca‑Cola when pregnant?
The Food Safety Authority of Ireland advises pregnant women to limit their intake of caffeine to less than 200mg per day. Pregnant or breast-feeding women, or women trying to become pregnant, should follow their healthcare provider's advice regarding caffeine intake. We also have plenty of caffeine-free soft drinks such as Fanta, Sprite, Caffeine-Free Diet Coke and Oasis.

Are Coca‑Cola brands suitable for vegetarians?
None of our soft drink brands contains ingredients derived from mammals or poultry. It's important to note that some of our products contain minute traces of fish gelatine, which is used as a stabiliser for the beta-carotene colour. These products are Lilt, Relentless Inferno, Kia-Ora Orange Squash and Kia-Ora Orange Squash No Added Sugar. We don't conduct any animal tests or fund animal tests in developing our soft drinks, except as may be necessary in some countries to fulfil government requirements for proof of ingredient safety.

Are Coca‑Cola brands suitable for those with gluten allergies or coeliac disease?
Coeliac disease is an autoimmune condition that is triggered by the presence of a protein called gluten, found in cereals such as wheat, oats, barley and rye. None of our products contain gluten. People with gluten allergies or coeliac disease should follow their healthcare provider's advice regarding the inclusion of soft drinks as part of their diet.

What about Coca‑Cola and diabetes?
Diabetes is a disorder that is caused by the body's inability to make or use insulin efficiently. An important part of diabetes management is to maintain blood sugar levels within narrow limits. People with diabetes should follow their healthcare provider's advice regarding the inclusion of low/no sugar drinks as part of their diet.

Are Coca‑Cola brands suitable for those with PKU?
Phenylketonuria (or PKU) is a rare condition, affecting approximately one in 10,000 babies born in the UK. Those that have the hereditary disease are unable to metabolise phenylalanine and need to control their intake of this amino acid from all food sources. People with PKU must manage their intake of foods and drinks containing the sweetener aspartame, which contains a source of phenylalanine. Our drinks sweetened with aspartame such as Coke Zero and Diet Coke are clearly labelled as such to alert these consumers to the presence of phenylalanine.