Coca Cola Secrets: 7 Things You Never Knew About Coke's Recipe

No matter who you are, you probably remember begging your parents for a glass of Coca-Cola as a child and still crave the fizzy sweetness of it as an adult.

Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most famous drinks, is turning 128 on March 29. The drink was originally created in Atlanta, Georgia by a pharmacist named John Pemberton in 1886 on approximately this date (though its birthday is celebrated on May 8, the date it was first served in a restaurant). In an effort to gain success, Pemberton created several concoctions before coming up with Coca-Cola’s legendary recipe.

Since then, the drink has grown in popularity and is now sold in more than 200 countries. What started as an experiment is now one of the largest corporations in the world, worth an estimated $173 billion, according to Forbes.

The company’s success, however, hasn’t come without controversy, largely surrounding their top secret recipe. While we all know it’s not the healthiest drink in the world, rumours allege that the recipe itself contains harmful acids and extracts from meats.

Here is the truth about some of the craziest rumours surrounding the soft drink’s recipe.

Coke Contains Alcohol

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SOMEWHAT TRUE: Coca-Cola is officially a non-alcoholic beverage. In fact, it was created specifically to be a soft drink during the temperance movement, a political campaign advocating abstinence from alcohol. However, research by the National Institute of Consumption in Paris revealed that there is 0.001 per cent per litre in many popular soda brands, including Coca-Cola.The Coca-Cola website maintains that traces of alcohol can occur naturally in many beverages and such low levels are considered acceptable by governments.

Coke Contains Pork

FALSE: There have been several rumours that Coke contains ‘pork extract.’ The company’s website debunks this by saying the drink doesn’t have any animal derivatives and is vegan-friendly. It's possible this rumour started as a result of another myth, that pouring Coke on pork can make "worms" come out of it, later debunked by Snopes.

Coke + MSG = Aphrodisiac

FALSE: There are rumours that Coke added MSG to their secret recipe because it creates an aphrodisiac. Coca-Cola holds firm that the flavour enhancer is not in the drink, and also that Coke is in no way an aphrodisiac. Smell expert Dr. Alan Hirsch, however, has postulated that thanks to Coke's role at certain points in our lives, the scent and smell might evoke feelings of comfort, or alternatively, alertness, according to YourTango.

Coke Contains Bug Dye

FALSE: It’s widely believed that Coke contains a red food dye made from cochineal beetles. This isn’t true, according to the company. However, bug dye is commonly used in foods such as meat, jam and baked goods in general, often referred to as Cochineal, Cochineal Extract, so look out for that.

Coca-Cola’s Name Is Derived From Its Use Of Cocaine

TRUE: Coke no longer has any cocaine. It’s uncertain how much, but there was a significant amount in the drink until 1903, reports Live Science, and the drink contained some of the illegal drug in its recipe until 1929.

Coke Has Acids That Will Dissolve Your Teeth

SOMEWHAT TRUE: Coke does contain citric and phosphoric acid, which can wear on teeth's enamel in the long term. These acids are common in many food and drinks, like orange juice, but in low levels so that they don’t put a strain on our digestive systems.

Coke Can Help You Clean Your House

SOMEWHAT TRUE: It’s also said that these acids make the drink a useful household cleaning product. While it contains carbonic acid, which can help in removing stains, according to Snopes, it’s a weak solution. Water is generally better since it doesn’t leave behind a sticky sugary residue. Image ID: 86665639

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