HOME | ABOUT US | BRANDS | QUALITY | eKO | PLANT TOUR | CITIZENSHIP | CAREERS | MEDIA

Frequently Asked Questions |Myths & Facts

Ans. The Coca-Cola Collectors Club is a non-profit, grass-roots organization run by collectors, for collectors and their families who are interested in the history and memorabilia of The Coca-Cola Company. This collectors group issues publications and holds local and national meetings where varieties of collectible materials are available.

Ans. Coca-Cola was invented in May 1886 by Dr. John S. Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia. The name "Coca-Cola" was suggested by Dr. Pemberton's bookkeeper, Frank Robinson. He penned the name Coca-Cola in the flowing script that is famous today. Coca-Cola was first sold at a soda fountain in Jacob's Pharmacy in Atlanta by Willis Venable. During the first year, sales of Coca-Cola averaged nine drinks a day, adding up to total sales for that year of $50. Since the year's expenses were just over $70, Dr. Pemberton took a loss. Today, products of The Coca-Cola Company are consumed at the rate of more than one billion drinks per day.

Ans.Yes. The Coca-Cola business system has a tradition of giving back to the communities it serves. Through community relations activities, including The Coca-Cola Foundation, the Company supports education and community development. The Coca-Cola Foundation, the Company's philanthropic arm, contributed $ 100 million to education during the 1990s, supporting programs at more than 400 schools, colleges and associations around the world. Foundation grants include funding for mentoring programs, for partnerships between public schools and universities, and for a signature Coca-Cola First Generation Scholarship Program to help students become the first in their family to attend college. For more information about The Coca-Cola Foundation, please call (404) 676 2568.

The Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, a joint initiative between U.S. Coca-Cola bottlers and the Company, provides $1.4 million in scholarships to talented high school seniors every year. On a local level, Coca-Cola offices and bottlers around the world support community activities. From supporting the arts in Russia to building schools in rural areas of China and the Philippines to funding a class for entrepreneurs at the University of Zimbabwe, The Coca-Cola Company is an active corporate citizen.

Ans. Honesty and integrity have always been cornerstone values of The Coca-Cola Company. As Company representatives, we all have the responsibility to act in every situation according to the highest standards of ethical conduct.

Ans. Soft drinks contribute to the diet in two ways. Because they are predominantly water, they can help quench thirst and meet the body's fluid requirement - about two quarts of liquid a day. In addition, soft drinks sweetened with sugar provide carbohydrates, which are readily available to the body for quick energy. Although soft drinks make these nutritional contributions to the diet, the Company markets them as a source of simple refreshment. Consumers wishing to control their caloric intake can also choose from our variety of low-calorie soft drinks and bottled water that are available in most markets.

As long as individuals balance their food choices, any food (including soft drinks) can be part of a healthy, enjoyable diet. Some people like to think of foods as either "good" or "bad," but there's no such thing as a "bad food" -- only "bad diets." According to most nutrition experts, the best way to ensure that you eat a good diet is to eat a variety of foods in moderation.

Ans. It may surprise you to know that the amount of sugar and calories in soft drinks is about the same as many fruit juices. An 8-ounce serving of Coca-Cola classic, for example, contains no more sugar and calories than 8 ounces of orange juice, and less sugar and fewer calories than 8 ounces of apple juice or grape juice. And, the body can't tell the difference between the natural sugar you get from fruit juice and that added to soft drinks.Sugar and Caloric Content of Selected Foods
Products, 8 oz. Sugar (grams) Calories
Coca-Cola classic 27 97
orange juice 27 112
apple juice 28 111
grape juice 32 128
Source: Food values of Portions Commonly Used, l5th ed., Pennington

According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Surgeon General, The American Dietetic Association and the National Academy of Sciences, sugar is safe, except for the link to tooth decay. And with tooth decay, the length of time sugar, or any carbohydrate (such as rice or potato), remains in contact with the teeth is more important than the amount of sugar. Soft drinks pass quickly through the mouth and do not stick to the teeth.

Sugar does not cause heart disease, cancer, diabetes or obesity. People gain weight when they consume more calories than they expend. Sugar does provide calories (4 per gram), but other digestible carbohydrates (like starch) and protein provide the same amount. And, you should know that other caloric sources, namely fat and alcohol, provide many more calories per gram than sugar does: alcohol provides 7 calories per gram, and fat provides more than twice as many as sugar (9 calories per gram). Sugar is the source of calories in regular (non-diet) soft drinks.

Ans. Definitely not! Sugar does provide energy to the body; however, making energy available by eating something sweet is not the same as causing someone to be active and excited. The concern that eating sugar makes children hyperactive originated in the mid-seventies and was based on anecdotal observations by parents and teachers. A parent would see his child eat cake and drink fruit punch at a party, for example, and then notice an increase in activity. The natural tendency was to link the hyperactive behavior to what the child consumed and to disregard other factors that may have played a role. However, well-designed studies that control for these other factors show no association between sugar consumption and hyperactive behavior. In fact, after reviewing research in this area, the FDA, the U.S. Surgeon General, The American Dietetic Association and the National Academy of Sciences have failed to find substantive evidence to prove a cause-and-effect relationship between sugar consumption and hyperactivity.

Ans. All common sugars, even those in fruits and starches, contribute to the development of tooth decay. It's worth noting that as soft drink consumption has increased over the past decade, tooth decay has decreased dramatically. Three factors help explain this.
First, the widespread use of fluoride in drinking water, toothpastes and mouthwashes has greatly improved dental health, making teeth more resistant to acid attack from plaque bacteria. Second, the sugar in soft drinks has minimal effect on teeth because it's in a liquid form. The sugar passes quickly through the mouth rather than sticking to the teeth. It's gone before it really can have an effect. Third, teeth in the mouth are constantly bathed by saliva. This helps neutralize both the acid in soft drinks and that which is produced when plaque bacteria digest sugar and other carbohydrates.

Comments like "a tooth placed in a glass of Coke will disappear" are misleading. A tooth will not disappear if left in a glass of Coke. Actually, the "tooth in Coke demonstration" in no way creates a real-life situation. The teeth in your mouth are alive, not dead. They're exposed to Coke for only a short amount of time rather than sitting for days in a glass of Coke. Any acidic beverage, including orange juice, would produce the same results. Your teeth are constantly bathed by saliva, which helps buffer the effects of acids from beverages and foods, greatly reducing any effect on tooth enamel. Finally, saliva contains minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus and fluoride, which replace any mineral loss from the tooth enamel.

Ans. While many soft drinks are caffeine-free, some contain a small amount of caffeine as part of the flavor profile. An 8-ounce serving of Coca-Cola classic has no more than 23 milligrams of caffeine, which is about one-third the amount found in the same amount of brewed coffee, and less than the caffeine content of tea.

The caffeine that is added to Coca-Cola classic, diet Coke and the other products in which it is used is for flavor purposes only. We use only the amount necessary to achieve the appropriate optimum flavor profile for the particular product sold. In fact, in many countries, the level of caffeine in most soft drinks is well below the amount legally permitted by regulatory agencies, such as the U.S. FDA.

Average Caffeine Content of Selected Foods
Products Milligrams
Coffee, 8 oz.
Brewed, drip method 85
Instant 75
Decaffeinated, brewed 3
Tea, 8 oz.
Brewed, imported brands 60
Brewed, major U.S. brands 40
Instant 28
Iced (8-oz. glass) 25
Baker's choColate, 1 oz. 26
Dark choColate, semi-sweet, 1 oz. 20
Cocoa beverage, 8 oz. 6
Milk choColate, 1 oz. 6
ChoColate milk beverage, 8 oz. 5
ChoColate-flavored syrup, 1 oz. 4
Source: International Food Information Council

Soft drinks, 8 oz.
Mello Yello 35
Diet Mello Yello 35
Surge 35
Cherry Coca-Cola 23
Coca-Cola classic 23
Diet Cherry Coca-Cola 23
Diet Coke 31
Diet Coke with Lemon 31
Vanilla Coke 23
Diet Vanilla Coke 31
TAB 31
Pibb Xtra 27
Diet Mr. Pibb 27
Barq's Root Beer 15

Ans. According to the FDA, there is no evidence to show that caffeine in carbonated beverages would render these beverages injurious to health. Numerous studies have examined the relationship between caffeine and various diseases.

The bulk of scientific research does not support a link between caffeine consumption and heart disease, hypertension or irregular heart rate. Results of studies looking at a possible connection between caffeine and cancer confirm the position of the American Cancer Society, which states that "there is no indication that caffeine... is a risk factor in human cancer." Also, both the National Cancer Institute and the American Medical Association have reported no connection between caffeine intake and the occurrence of fibrocystic breast disease. And, studies involving thousands of pregnant women also fail to show an increased risk of birth defects, even among the heaviest caffeine consumers.

Ans. It has become popular to use the word "addiction" loosely. People will sometimes say they are "addicted" to choColate, football or watching television. But, according to the World Health Organization, "There is no evidence whatsoever that caffeine use has even remotely comparable physical and social consequences which are associated with serious drugs of abuse."

Some people who have consumed large quantities of products with caffeine on a regular basis and then suddenly reduce their intake substantially have reported experiencing temporary symptoms such as headaches or fatigue lasting over a two- or three-day period. Because the caffeine levels used in soft drinks are low, it is unlikely that such side effects would occur from a cessation of soft drink consumption.

Ans. Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener made primarily of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Amino acids, including the two amino acids in aspartame, are the building blocks for proteins and are found widely in nature in both plants and animals. The components of aspartame are found naturally in a number of foods. Milk (8 oz., 403 mg) and chicken (3 oz., 1,026 mg) contain more phenylalanine that a soft drink sweetened with aspartame (8 oz., ranges from approximately 10 to 85mg).

Ans. Yes, the safety of all ingredients used in the products of The Coca-Cola Company-including aspartame--has been established, and the use of these ingredients complies with relevant regulations in all countries where our products are sold.
Prior to its approval, aspartame underwent one of the most thorough scientific reviews ever conducted. National and international regulatory bodies consider it one of the most widely tested ingredients in the food supply, and more than 90 nations worldwide have approved aspartame for use. It is used widely in countries such as the U.S., the European Union, and Japan. Leading health groups who have formally recognized the safety of aspartame include:

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
International Food Information Council
Multiple Sclerosis Foundation
The American Medical Association
The American Diabetes Association
The Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) of the Food and Agriculture Organization and World Health Organization of the United Nations
The American Academy of Family Physicians
The American Academy of Pediatrics
The Scientific Committee for Food of the European Economic Union
The Epilepsy Institute

Ans. Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener made primarily of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. A very small amount of methanol is formed when aspartame is digested or when its components separate. However, the amount of methanol one could possibly consume from aspartame is well within safe levels--actually less than that found in many fruits and vegetables--and is harmless at the levels found in foods or products that contain aspartame. The amount of methanol produced in the body from aspartame is metabolized and excreted in the same manner as methanol ingested from fruit and vegetable sources.

Ans. Aspartame has been reviewed by health authorities around the world and found to be safe. More than 90 nations worldwide have approved it for use. It is used widely in countries such as the United States, the European Union, and Japan. Aspartame has been reviewed and found safe by the United Nations' Joint Food and Agriculture Organization/World Health Organization Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA). It has also been reviewed and approved for use by the Scientific Committee for Food of the European Union.
The American Academy of Pediatrics reviewed research looking at the relationship of aspartame and pregnancy and stated that aspartame is safe for the mother and the unborn child. The American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Cancer Institute and the FDA have all found aspartame to be safe.

Ans. Some individuals with a rare hereditary disease known as phenylketonuria (PKU) are unable to metabolize phenylalanine adequately and need to control their intake of this amino acid from all food sources, including meats, grains, and dairy products. Food products sweetened with aspartame are labeled as such to alert these consumers to the presence of phenylalanine. In many countries, including the U.S., the statement is required by law. However, the wording may vary among countries. Individuals who have PKU are aware of it; all infants in the U.S. are screened at birth.

Ans. Phenylalanine is an essential amino acid found naturally in many foods, such as meats, grains and dairy products. It is also one of the components of aspartame, which are found naturally in a number of foods. Milk (8 oz., 403 mg) and chicken (3 oz., 1,026 mg) contain more phenylalanine than a soft drink sweetened with aspartame (8 oz., ranges from approximately 10 to 85 mg).

Ans. Regular Internet users are all too familiar with the various scams and rumors that spread across the World Wide Web. These messages sometimes pass along incorrect information of a serious nature and, unfortunately, recipients have no way of assessing the strength and reality of that information.

A current e-mail being passed around the Web falsely associates a host of health risks with aspartame, the sweetener used in diet Coke and many other products from other companies. This e-mail claims that aspartame causes a number of diseases -- claims that are false. It is unfortunate that the Internet's remarkable capacity to transmit information is being so abused.

We want you to know that every reliable piece of scientific information we have identified shows that aspartame is a safe and suitable sweetener. Despite the irresponsible and unfounded rumors that are now appearing on the Internet, we want to assure you that there is no scientific information linking aspartame to any specific set of symptoms or diseases.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation on the Internet and in the media about the ingredients in foods and beverages we consume. You can be assured that aspartame is one of the most thoroughly tested substances in the food supply and has consistently been found to be safe by food safety experts and regulatory authorities. The Coca-Cola Company would not use aspartame as an ingredient in any of our products if this were not true.

Ans. Yes. The American Diabetes Association has stated that aspartame is a safe sugar substitute and can be included in a diabetic meal plan. In fact, there is no question that aspartame has been beneficial to people with diabetes. It has allowed them to consume a diet that is healthful and still enjoy the sweet foods those without diabetes take for granted.

Ans. According to the U.S. FDA, products containing less than 35 milligrams per eight-ounce serving can be considered "very low sodium." An 8-ounce serving of most soft drinks contains less than 35 milligrams of sodium. This amount is very small in comparison to other foods. Some soft drinks have slightly more sodium, no more than 55 milligrams per 8 ounces, and can be labeled "low sodium." In most cases, the majority of the sodium in soft drinks comes from the local water supply.
Sodium Content of Selected Foods
Products Milligrams
Most soft drinks, 8 oz. less than 35
Milk, 8 oz. 125
Peanuts, dry roasted, 1 oz. 230
White bread, 2 slices 245
Tomato juice, 8 oz. 875
Selected frozen entrees more than 1,000
Salt, 1 tsp. 2,300
Source: Food Values of Portions Commonly Used, l5th ed., Pennington

Ans. Some people have expressed unwarranted concern about the effect of soft drinks, in particular phosphoric acid, on bone health.

In 1994, the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) held a conference on Optimal Calcium Intake and brought together experts from many fields including osteoporosis and bone and dental health. The experts prepared an independent report that stated "phosphate has not been found to affect calcium absorption or excretion significantly." The American Medical Association reviewed the NIH experts' statement and concluded that the effect of phosphate on calcium absorption was "physiologically trivial."

Current, well-designed research by Dr. Robert Heaney at Creighton University, one of the country's foremost calcium experts, still supports this view. A study published early in 2000, done over a 20-year period, showed that phosphorous intake does not affect the body's absorption of calcium.

Another study published in July 2000 by Dr. Tom Lloyd at Penn State University measuring bone mass density of teenage girls found that the amount of physical activity had more impact on bone density than calcium intake.

Soft drinks contribute very small amounts of phosphorus/phosphoric acid to the diet. Compared to other dietary sources of phosphorus, soft drinks contribute about two percent of the total dietary phosphorus, and the amount found in soft drinks is similar to the level found in orange juice. High protein foods (e.g. meats, cheeses, nuts and grains) provide the majority of dietary phosphorus.

Below is a table that shows the amount of phosphorus in 100 grams of various products:
Phosphorus Content of Selected Foods
Products Milligrams
Coca-Cola classic 17
Milk, whole 3.3% fat 93
Ice cream, vanilla 105
Chicken, light, w/skin, stewed 147
Chicken liver pate 175
Ham, sliced regular 247
Pork sirloin 252
Peanuts, all types, raw 376
Cheese, cheddar 512