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Hugo Chavez, the President of Venezuela and outspoken critic of everything from the United States, said on Wednesday that Coca-Cola had to stop selling Coke Zero in Venezuela. The reason? Public health risks.

Venezuela’s Health Minister, Jesus Mantilla, did not give any specific reasons as to why he believes that Coke Zero poses a health risk. However, it is believed that he thinks artificial sweeteners could have something to do with his decision, as well as the President’s obvious distaste for products that represent the United States.

The whole situation is kind of ironic considering that even with Chavez’s criticism of the United States and anti-capitalist policies and anti-consumer issues, Venezuela is one of South America’s countries that is most like the United States. The oil-exporting nation is host to United States fast food chains and baseball.

Coke Zero has been sold in Venezuela since April. In that short time market share for low calorie, diet sodas have increased by 200%.

Hugo Chavez is an extremely outspoken leader. In my opinion he is driven by his power and how much oil that Venezuela sits on. If Venezuela did not have the oil reserves that it did, I’m sure that Chavez would be taken down a peg or two.

As far as Venezuela not selling Coke Zero, why couldn’t they just tell the people that they didn’t want to sell it because it represents capitalism? Why would they have to lie about it? I can’t figure out why…

Jeremy

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