Vimto drink vitamin claim false

The company says there was no intention to mislead the public

A soft drinks company has apologised for falsely claiming one of its products specially designed for children contained vitamin C.

Labels on Nichols plc's Vimto Fruit Blast said the drink contained 4.1mg of vitamin C per 100ml.

Harlow magistrates heard on Friday that tests by Essex County Council found no trace of the vitamin.

Nichols, of Merseyside, which admitted six charges under the Food Safety Act 1990, is to be sentenced next month.

Company director Simon Nichols apologised for the "labelling error" and said it had not been intended to mislead the public.

When parents are trying to wean their children off fizzy monstrosities this would have been a very useful alternative for them Peter Gaywood, prosecuting

The court heard a routine spotcheck in October 2003 on a bottle of Vimto Fruit Blast in Harlow showed it contained no vitamin C .

Peter Gaywood, prosecuting for Essex County Council, said the company, based in Newton-le-Willows, was told of the problem at that stage but took no steps to rectify it.

Two further checks on bottles bought in Chelmsford and Colchester showed the drink still contained no vitamin C.

Mr Gaywood said the company carried out its own tests on the drink, which was produced in Saudi Arabia, but failed to have an independent analysis.

He said that between March 2003 and January 2004 when production stopped 53,090 20-bottle cases were produced. Only 2,017 cases remained unsold when production ceased.

"In this day and age when parents are trying to wean their children off fizzy monstrosities this would have been a very useful alternative for them," Mr Gaywood said.

The case was adjourned until 15 November for sentencing at Chelmsford Crown Court.