SOFT-DRINK manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline claims it has not been misleading UK consumers over the vitamin content of its drinks following an international row.

The company is due to appear in court in New Zealand today to face charges alleging 15 breaches of the country’s Fair Trading Act, following an investigation by two college students into the vitamin C content of Ribena.

The students found that levels of vitamin C were significantly lower than claimed in its advertising.

Last week, the company also reported itself to regulators in neighbouring Australia over the misleading claims ahead of the New Zealand case.

However, GSK yesterday reassured UK consumers that the issues discussed with the New Zealand Commerce Commission, which brought the court charges, only affect some Ribena products in Australia and New Zealand.

A spokesperson said, “GSK has conducted thorough laboratory testing of vitamin C levels in Ribena in all other markets.

“This testing has confirmed that Ribena drinks in all other markets, including the UK, contain the stated levels of vitamin C, as described on product labels.

“In New Zealand and Australia we have deleted the vitamin C claims on the affected products, moved to a new method of testing and begun reformulating the product.

“Following rigorous evaluation of the technology used by GSK Consumer Healthcare to assess vitamin C content, the company concluded that the method we had used for the Australian and New Zealand products was not sensitive enough to measure the natural breakdown in vitamin C that occurs over time while this type of product is in storage or on shelf.”

GSK has been lobbying the Scottish Executive to retain Ribena in schools if the Schools (Nutrition and Health Promotion) (Scotland) Bill is passed, banning many unhealthy products from school canteens.

A quote from GSK’s consultation submission reads, “We believe that low calorie, still (not fizzy) drinks such as Ribena Really Light which contains fruit juice, 100% RDA vitamin C and is friendly to teeth, should be available in schools.”

GSK UK said yesterday that it would not be revising its response to the bill consultation and stood by the nutritional claims of its UK products.