Soft drinks ‘may need health warnings’

This undated file photograph shows Natasha Harris.

This undated file photograph shows Natasha Harris.

Published Feb 13, 2013

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Wellington, New Zealand -

A New Zealand coroner says soft-drink makers should consider adding health warnings after he concluded a 2-gallon-a-day Coca-Cola habit was a “substantial factor” in a woman's death.

A New Zealand food industry association rejected his suggestion on Wednesday. It says “there isn't a labelling regime in the world” that could have prevented the death of somebody who chose to drink the equivalent of 30 cans a day.

Coroner David Crerar this week issued a report into the 2010 death of 31-year-old Natasha Harris. He found the mother-of-eight died of a heart attack. He said the large amount of Coca-Cola she drank likely led to metabolic imbalances which gave rise to her heart problems.

In a statement, Coca-Cola Oceania disputed Crerar's findings. - Sapa-AP

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