Coca-Cola have not had good experiences when it comes to recipe changes. When they switched to ‘New Coke’ in 1985, their American consumers reacted extremely negatively and sales plummeted. It wasn’t until the original recipe was re-launched as Coca-Cola Classic, that sales were bolstered.  The market effect of the switch from Cocaine to caffeine in 1904 is less well documented…

The company therefore found themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place. As negative as the public’s response to a recipe change might be, splashing cancer warnings across their iconic red packaging was deemed to be the more sizeable of the two evils. Equally, the level of public liability insurance required to protect against legal battles should the beverage’s level of carcinogen cause health issues would surely be completely unfeasible.

The carcinogenic ingredient in question is the caramel colouring 4-methlimidazole (also known as 4-MEI). If this doesn’t sound healthy, that’s because it almost certainly isn’t. It might add a tooth-rotting caramel taste to Coke, but it has also been linked to instances of leukaemia in rats and cancer in mice by US scientists. Although this carcinogen is present in small quantities in many foods, once it passes a certain level, the US government state that the consumer must be warned.

The multi-billion dollar corporation are therefore altering their recipe to reduce the amount of 4-MEI in their US beverages, yet in the rest of the world they are under no obligation to warn consumers of the possible effects of the substance. Many people believe that the cancer risk from the caramel colouring is negligible and that the US legislation is unnecessary.

The European Food Safety Authority, for example, reviewed 4-MEI in March 2011 and found that it was not a health risk. The American Beverages Association (who may or may not have a vested interest) were also amongst those who claimed there was no health risk from 4-MEI. According to the US Food and Drug Administration, a human would need to consume 1000 cans of coke every single day to match the quantities that were given to the cancerous lab rodents.

As you can see from Coca-Cola’s trials and tribulations, industry regulations and standpoints are always changing. To ensure your business’s operations do not pose a threat to your clients, public liability insurance is vital. Explore ConstructaQuote today to find a flexible, comprehensive public liability insurance quote to protect you from whatever life throws your way.

The part-time security guard has spent £50,000 turning his dream into a reality, and by all accounts it’s been money well spent.

The project began in earnest when Mr Harbourne managed to track down an original Cadillac, one of only six anywhere in the world, just a few miles from his Leicestershire home. From this day forth, Mr Harborne toiled away, trying to create the most ‘authentic Ghostbusters experience’ he could.

The sci-fi fan had to craft many of the vehicle’s interior features by hand to create a truly authentic feel. He also worked tirelessly on the wiring to power four light bars and rotating beacons on the roof. He is also particularly proud of his scrolling LEDs for the sides of the vehicle, which ingeniously spell out, ‘Ghostbusters – we’re back!’

Perhaps the least annoying feature of what can best be describe as a cross between a hearse and an ambulance, are four speakers, which can boom out the Ghostbusters theme tune whenever it is deemed necessary, which in modern day Leicestershire is probably all too often.

When questioned about van insurance, Mr Harborne remained tight lipped. He should probably pay ConstructaQuote a visit sooner rather than later, or it won’t be the Ghostbusters his undoubtedly long suffering neighbours are calling.

Following completion in its Chinese shipyard, the Titanic II will be escorted by the Chinese navy to the UK where it will begin its historic voyage the New York. There’s tempting fate and then there’s walking up to fate, greeting it warmly and inviting it in for tea and biscuits…

When asked whether the Titanic II could suffer the same fate of its predecessor, Mr Palmer comfortingly stated “Of course it will sink if you put a hole in it…if you are superstitious…you never know what could happen.”.

The new ship will be a very close replica of the original vessel above the waterline. Below deck the boat will incorporate state-of-the-art engineering including a fuel-efficient bulbous bow a bigger rubber and bow thrusters for extra manoeuvrability and an engine which runs on diesel, not coal.

Above deck, the ship will be laid out identically to the ill-fated original. With 840 rooms and 9 decks, the ship will epitomise glamour and elegance on the seven seas. Gyms, pools, libraries, fine dining and luxurious cabins are all planned to feature on board.

If this sounds like the crackpot scheme of a professional eccentric, you might be right. Mr Palmer is well known down under for his peculiar whims and the vast resources which allow him to make them a reality. After one particularly good financial year he bought Mercedes Benz for his top 55 performers.

If you are tempted by a cruise on Mr Palmer’s creation you will need to wait until 2016, by which time it might not seem like such a fantastic idea…In the meantime, let’s hope that Clive Palmer has invested in some very thorough public and employers’ liability insurance – and plenty of lifeboats too.

First group, the UK’s leading bus operator, came second in the global-sustainability league table for social, environmental and governance, whilst the Go–Ahead Group, another major player in the UK bus industry came in at 10^th for the same performance indicator.

Top of the tree was the German sportswear manufacturer Puma, with British drug giant GlaxoSmithKline hot on its tail. In comparison to these high performers, US tech giants Apple and Google struggled, both being awarded a D grade on a scale of A – E.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, of the world’s 50 largest companies, the four graded at E, the lowest grade on the scale, were the oil and gas producers: ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Occidental.

Apple’s progress up the table was hampered by the poor conditions of many of the Chinese workers assembling the Apple stalwarts the iPad and the iPhone. Mark Robertson, a spokesman for Eiris, explained: “Apple has yet to tackle some of its most relevant environmental, social and governance issues, although the company has recently taken some steps to address these issues by auditing its Chinese suppliers, it still has a long way to go to fully address all its sustainability-related risks.”

FirstGroup’s impressive showing in the league table, 2^nd globally, was largely attributed to its dedication to reduce its carbon footprint, by installing solar panels and harvesting rainwater as well as increasing the fuel efficiency of its UK bus fleet.

The world’s 10 most ethical firms:

1. Puma – German sportswear manufacturer
2. FirstGroup – British transport company
3. National Australia Bank – Clydesdale and Yorkshire banks
4. GlaxoSmithKline – UK pharmaceutical company
5. Roche – Swiss pharmaceutical giant
6. Novartis – Swiss drugs company
7. Philips Electronics – Dutch electronics and household products manufacturer
8. Deutsche Borse – German stock exchange
9. Novo Nordisk – Danish drugs firm
10. Go-Ahead Group – British transport company

This is the latest move to help improve the accessibility of car and van insurance for older motorists, following the insurer LV’s decision to scrap the maximum age limit of 86 on their policies.

Currently, of 232 vehicle insurance policies available, 12.9% have an upper age limit of 75, whilst 20% will not insure those over the age of 80. However, for older motorists there are still policies out there with no upper age limit, 17 in total, with the majority offered by specialist insurers such as Saga, Staysure and Age UK; however, the price of car and van insurance policies provided by specialist insurers do not usually compare favourably with the mainstream providers.

Although the move by the ABI and Biba is a step in the right direction, it remains to be seen whether relaxing restrictions will result in an increase in the number of polices offered to older drivers, as the underwriting process may not assess such risks favourably.

Some insurers will remain reluctant to insure older drivers due to the elevated risk associated with motorists over a certain age. Under the terms of the new agreement, the ABI will publish car and van insurance claims data, classified by age, to highlight the true cost of insuring older drivers. Currently some analysts believe the higher premiums across the board for older motorists are based more on stereotype than evidence.

Insurance specialists believe the best way for older motorists to get a great deal is through the use of specialist car and van insurance comparison sites like ConstructaQuote. By comparing the premiums offered by a wide range of insurers, it is still possible to find a great deal, irrespective of age.