Dive Brief:
- Starting this month, Capri Sun juice pouches in the U.S. will have a clear bottom.
- The change in packaging is meant to address concerns consumers may have after numerous reports of mold in the drink.
- Trying to put the best face on the mold allegations, Kraft also says the mold is the result of offering a drink without artificial preservatives that would prevent it from spoiling and getting moldy.
Dive Insight:
In 2012, a woman complained that her son found a worm in his Capri Sun pouch. At the time, Kraft issued a statement that mold in Capri Sun is sometimes mistaken for worms. The difference is that worms would be regarded as a safety issue that warrants a recall, whereas mold does not. As the company explained in response to a complaint on Facebook: “If mold does occur, we completely agree that it can be unsightly and gross, but it is not harmful and is more of a quality issue rather than a safety issue.” Knowing, though, that consumers don't want to deal with mold, the company now makes it possible to see into the container before taking a sip and getting an unpleasant surprise in the straw.