With the departure of Soviet power, many products and phenomena suddenly burst into our lives and gradually became commonplace. One of the products that have turned from an overseas curiosity into an integral part of our daily lives is Coca-Cola. This drink is drunk by both children and adults. Around him there are many legends, often resembling scary tales. And this is not at all surprising, because the composition of Coca-Cola has been kept secret for many years. And people are such that if they are not told something, they begin to invent the missing details themselves. Of course, the packaging indicates the approximate composition of the product, which includes dye, carbon dioxide, phosphoric acid, caffeine, sugar or sweetener and mysterious natural flavors. But this does not provide comprehensive information and a complete answer to the question of what Coca-Cola is made of.
For a more thorough study of the issue, it is perhaps worth returning to 1886, when pharmacist John Pemberton, a resident of Atlanta, invented a new drink. Its name, coined by the accountant Pemberton, consists of the names of the original ingredients, which were coca leaves and cola nuts - a tropical tree. This mixture was diluted with water and sold in a pharmacy, where, however, it was not very popular. It is impossible to say with complete certainty whether the story of how Coca-Cola became fizzy is not a myth. However, it is alleged that one of the pharmacy visitors, who had a hangover, asked for gas to be added to the new drink. Since then, Coca-Cola has been used with pleasure as a soft and tonic drink. It is worth mentioning that the Coca-Cola logo has remained unchanged since the appearance of the drink. It was also coined by a Pemberton accountant.
For so many years, the drink, of course, could not remain unchanged, the various ingredients of Coca-Cola changed at different times. Until recently, the exact recipe was kept by the manufacturer in the strictest confidence. There is no doubt that the creation of excessive mystery around what Coca-Cola is made of has served only to the benefit of the popularity of the drink. The mysterious ingredient Coca-Cola extract caused the most controversy and speculation. It was assumed that it consists of a mixture of components of plant origin, but no one knew the truth. Even the employees of the beverage factory could not clarify the situation, as the ingredients were mixed under code names. It turned out to find out what Coca-Cola is made of, it is enough to sue the company, which, in fact, was done in Turkey. Representatives of the Turkish St. Nicholas Foundation said that according to the legislation of the country, the manufacturer is obliged to indicate the exact composition of the product on the package.
When the world found out what Coca-Cola is actually made of, there was no limit to the surprise of drink lovers. Not everyone was pleased to learn that the mysterious ingredient is made from insects. For the production of the natural dye of carmine, which is part of Coca-Cola, cochineal females are used - an insect belonging to the order of half-winged. It turns out that people knew how to get carmine from ancient times, so Coca-Cola producers did not invent anything new.
For especially suspicious people, the fact that the component obtained from insects is added to the drink they drink may not be too pleasant. Perhaps this is partly why the component has been kept secret for so long. However, the fact that the carmine dye has a completely natural origin and is harmless to the body cannot but rejoice. At least, those who like to tell legends about the incredible harm caused by Coca-Cola to the body have now fewer reasons to frighten friends.