Wednesday,  February 13, 2013 • Vol. 14--No. 209 • 33 of 35 •  Other Editions

(Continued from page 32)

• ___

NZ coroner says cola habit a factor in woman's death, suggests warnings; group rejects call

• WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) -- A New Zealand food industry association on Wednesday rejected a coroner's call to add health warnings to soft-drink labels following the 2010 death of a woman who drank about 2 gallons of Coca-Cola a day.
• Coroner David Crerar issued a final report Tuesday into the death of 31-year-old Natasha Harris, concluding that the mother of eight died from a heart attack. He said the large amount of Coca-Cola she drank likely led to metabolic imbalances that gave rise to her heart problems, adding that Coke was likely a "substantial factor" in her death.
• But New Zealand Food & Grocery Council Chief Executive Katherine Rich said "there isn't a labeling regime in the world" that could have prevented the death of somebody who chose to drink Coke in such large quantities.
• The New Zealand branch of the Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Company, the world's largest beverage maker, disputed the coroner's findings, noting that experts could not agree on the most likely cause of Harris' death.
• Crerar recommended that soft-drink makers consider including caffeine levels on the labels and warnings about the ill health effects if the drinks are consumed in excessive quantities.
• ___

Banana Joe becomes America's top dog, wins best in show at Westminster

• NEW YORK (AP) -- Banana Joe is very appealing, in any language.
• The little affenpinscher with a monkey face added to his world of success Tuesday night, winning best in show at the Westminster Kennel Club.
• "He speaks German, Dutch, Spanish and English," co-owner and breeder Mieke Cooijmans offered.
• She was set to take Banana Joe back to the Netherlands on Wednesday. Now, the trip has been postponed for his victory lap.
• With a bouncy step and shiny black coat, Banana Joe made up for near misses the last two years at Madison Square Garden and won America's premier dog competition. The 5-year-old wagged his tail a mile a minute and stuck out his pink

(Continued on page 34)

© 2012 Groton Daily Independent • To send correspondence, click here.