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The Ribena Reports: Consumerism to the Fore




I have decided to pursue this matter further with GSK, following valid comments from visitors to my site.

I have asked GSK to state their stand on several issues, the key one being their openness in allowing an independent laboratory to conduct content tests on the locally and imported ready-to-drink Ribena variants available in Malaysia.

Like you and I, I am sure GSK would like to put this issue to rest as soon as possible so that all parties can move along.

I expect GSK to reply as promptly as they did the first query, for which I thanked them via email. Kudos to them.

We wait... and to kill time, see the picture of the two girls that floored a multinational from a school lab in this story.

Australian and New Zealand Vitamin C lack quality?
Well, you might think so if you read the story in the link above; "the problem arose when Ribena in Australia and New Zealand was left on shop shelves for too long, causing the vitamin C to degrade".

I was never that good in science, but what I am reading in that statement is despite GSK's obvious size, it does not mean that it practices the same manufacturing processes and use the same good raw materials for all of its plants worldwide. Good to know though, that based on the statement GSK made in Malaysia, that Ribena in Malaysia passed the test with flying colours.

Further proof perhaps, pending GSK's response to my email, is this article from Singapore. Apparently, the island-state's Agri-food & Veterinary Authority (AVA) has conducted tests and found that Ribenas sold on the island is "high in vitamin C". All the Ribenas there come from either Malaysian or Filipino plants.

AVA's standards prescribe that the label "Rich in Vitamin x" can only be used if a fruit juice contains a minimum of 15mg of the said vitamin per 200ml of the juice.

Ribena Is Not Alone?
But contrast that to a claim by scientist in New Zealand that all juices, not just Ribena, damage the vitamin C that is added to the drinks through the manufacturing and packing process.

"Christchurch School of Medicine researcher Margaret Vissers said yesterday she was surprised Ribena had been singled out because all packaged fruit juices suffered from a loss of vitamin C through processing and storage".

Vissers reckons the sterilisation process in pre-packaged drinks are part of the reason, and says the best bet is to get vitamin C from fruits. Blackcurrants or oranges? Hmmm...

Meanwhile, there's a PDF file on Ribena here which is very informative.

Did you know:

* In 1998, Ribena relaunched itself with a higher Vitamin C count,doubling its previous formulation
* Ribena’s name is derived from Ribes Negrum, the Latin name for blackcurrants

More of such data from the PDF file.

There are many claims in this piece, which I am sure is authenticated.
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Comments

Anonymous said…
We can always look at the positive side of things. Perhaps this fiasco will lead to more awareness on the legality of product claims as made by the manufacturers in sales advertising.

A very good example is the word "anti-aging".

There is a real PR damage for Ribena, mostly from consumers who feel duped. It is probably the same consumers who are calling for McDonalds' blood for serving its supposedly artery clogging fare.

Sugar in our drinks? Somebody shut down Yeo Hiap Seng and the teh tarik stalls. Did YOU know that the cup of teh tarik you drink with condensed milk - yeah, that is literally sugar all the way? Whether it is corn-based syrup or sugarcane, it is sugar, honey. Stop being indignant AND stupid at the same time.

I am with the researchers on this one - surprised that Ribena is being singled out.

The real reason why Ribena is punished is because its product label claims on vitamin C failed to pan out for its Ready to Drink line. Boy are they sorry, now.

I mean, the masses that can be easily duped by advertising are the same consumers that can be whipped into a frenzy (or orgy) of irrational vilification.

That is why they are called PR disasters. Some people thought they found dirt that can bring down the house. Is it me or is that some glee of high almighty on their lips? Well, Ribena makes a lot of money, so lets take that profit margin down a peg or two eh?

Me? I grew up on Ribena. Want to be indignant over something? Go sign-up for protests at the makers of cigarettes that produce mini sticks of death. Or fast in the mission to stamp out stupidity.

Ribena has more vitamin C than your comparable orange drink. I know of another drink that has more vitamin C than Ribena. In fact, I also know that vitamin C tablets have way more vitamin C that is found Ribena, weight for weight.

Ribena might have misled consumers on the content of vitamin C in its line of drinks? Well lawyers, here is your class action suit pending for those who wants compensation for the emotional distress that caused.

Adios!
Thursday, March 29, 2007 10:12:00 am
reborn said…
I'm glad that consumerism does have its allies in Malaysia; manay a time I felt that Malaysian consumers kind of just accept the way things are.

There is so much power in consumerism that can benefit all parties; MALAYSIANS, THIS IS YOUR CALL TO ARMS.

Let's put consumerism to the fore.
Thursday, March 29, 2007 11:09:00 am
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