Soft drink maker Coca-Cola pulled its sugar-free Coke Zero from stores in Venezuela on Thursday on the order of the country's health ministry, which said the product is unsafe to consumers.

"This product must be taken off the market to safeguard Venezuelans' health" as it has "an ingredient that can be harmful to people," Health Minister Jesus Mantilla was quoted by Agence France-Presse as telling the state's news agency ABN.

The company and its local bottler Femsa also suspended production of the beverage pending investigation of its ingredients by the government after announcing to the local media that Coke Zero has no ingredient harmful to human health.

Coca-Cola and Femsa began selling Coke Zero in Venezuela in April.