FAQs

Consumers

We want to make sure you get the information you need about Cott products. Find answers to the most frequently asked questions below.

Where can I buy your products?
Where can I get a refund on your bottles or cans?
Are your products certified kosher?
What if I have allergies?
Which types of artificial sweeteners do you use in your products?
Which types of plastic bottles do you use and are they safe?
Can you tell me about some of the ingredients in your products?

If you can't find an answer to your question, please contact our Consumer Information Center at 1-888-260-3776.

Where can I buy your products?

Cott products can be found in mass merchandisers, grocery stores, drugstores and convenience stores. For a store near you, please call our Consumer Information Center at 1-888-260-3776.

Where can I get a refund on your bottles or cans?

In the US, many states have passed deposit laws which require consumers to pay a deposit on soft drink containers. Empty containers can be returned to the store where they were purchased, or to a state authorized redemption center, for redemption. States that require a deposit on beverage containers are listed on the container as postal abbreviations. Even if you don’t live in a state with deposit legislation, both our plastic bottles and aluminum cans are recyclable in most municipal programs.

Three states, Maine, Hawaii and California, also require a deposit on single-serve water containers. Only water bottles purchased in those states can be returned for redemption.

Canadian deposit laws vary by province. If you have specific questions, please contact our Consumer Information Center at 1-888-260-3776.

Are your products certified kosher?

Most products produced by Cott are certified Kosher. Any certified product in the US or Canada carries a kosher symbol on the label.

What if I have allergies?

Most of our products are free of the most common allergens, such as gluten, wheat, oats, dairy, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish, soybeans, seeds and sulfites. However, for information on specific products, we suggest you call our Consumer Information Center at 1-888-260-3776.

Which types of artificial sweeteners do you use in your products?

We use a variety of different artificial sweeteners in our products. Some products use a combination of sweeteners. These include aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and neotame. Any sweetener used in a product is declared on the label in the ingredient statement, and has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Which types of plastic bottles do you use and are they safe?

All of our plastic bottles in the United States are made with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. The US FDA has determined that PET plastic meets standards for food-contact materials established by federal regulations and therefore permits its use in food and beverage packaging. Because it provides an excellent barrier against oxygen and carbon dioxide, and is virtually unbreakable, PET has become a material of choice for bottling beverages such as water and carbonated soft drinks.

Can you tell me about some of the ingredients in your products?

All ingredients used in our products are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and/or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Here are some brief descriptions:

Artificial flavor	An artificial flavor is any substance used to impart flavor that is not derived from a natural substance.
Caffeine	Caffeine comes from the leaves, seeds, or fruits of more than 60 plants. It is found in naturally beverages and foods, such as coffee, tea, and chocolate and is added to others, like cola drinks.
Calcium disodium EDTA	Calcium disodium EDTA is used in some beverages as a preservative.
Carbonated water	Carbonated water, also known as soda water, sparkling water, or seltzer water, is water containing carbon dioxide.
Citric acid	Citric acid is a weak, organic acid found commonly in citrus fruits. It is used to add tartness and acidity to many soft drinks.
Filtered water	Filtered water is water that has passed through a filtering system to remove impurities.
Malic acid	Naturally found in apples, malic acid is added to food and beverages for its tartness, flavor-blending characteristics, and sour/sweet balance that complement fruity flavors.
Natural flavors	Natural flavors are those derived from the essential extract, essence or oil of a natural source like fruit or spices. They add only flavor, not nutritional value, to a beverage.
Phenylalanine	One of the two amino acids that make up the sweetener aspartame. Some people can have adverse reactions to this amino acid, so the FDA requires that we provide a warning on our label.
Phosphoric acid	Used to add a pleasant tartness to certain beverages.
Potassium benzoate	Potassium benzoate is a preservative used in some sodas.
Potassium citrate	Potassium citrate is used in some beverages as a preservative.
Potassium sorbate	Potassium sorbate is used as a preservative in some non-carbonated and juice-containing soft drinks.
Sodium benzoate	Sodium benzoate is used as a preservative in some sodas.