The claim
There are currently rumors circulating that Coca-Cola contains a substance extracted from the cochineal insect to give it its characteristic brown color. Means: Lice give the drink its color! In addition, the word “Coca” is said to be a derivative of the insect’s name.
Our conclusion
Incorrect. Coca-Cola's signature brown color is achieved through the use of caramel coloring, which is produced by the controlled heating of sugar. Lice or insect pigments such as cochineal are not included in the composition of Coca-Cola. The word “Coca” in the name “Coca-Cola” has nothing to do with cochineal or insects. The name “Coca-Cola” comes from two of its original ingredients: the leaves of the coca plant and kola nuts, which contain caffeine.
The claim reads, among other things:
„Back in 2006, Turkey launched a lawsuit against Coca-Cola for the first time in the world because of the drink's composition.„
"Coca-Cola's label usually says it contains sugar, phosphoric acid, caffeine, caramel, carbon dioxide and some type of "extract." It was this excerpt that raised suspicions. The Coca-Cola company was forced to reveal the secret of what Coca-Cala is actually made of. It turned out to be a liquid from the cochinil insect. Cochinil is an insect that lives in the Canary Islands and Mexico. This insect attaches itself to the plant with a hobot, sucks out its sap and never moves from its place. Special fields are being prepared for cochineal insects.”
or
“Dried cochinile looks like a raisin, but it is actually an insect. You now understand what the word “Coca” in the name of the drink means.”
A similar claim was made 11 years ago! This was:
“You won't believe it but I suspect that it is the truth...So what I want to say is that the Cola gets its color from so-called scale insects...This was established in the court case against the Coca-Cola Company was asked to reveal their secret additives... After a lot of back and forth, they finally admitted that the oh-so-great mixture contains the color (the squeezed out stuff) of scale insects" ( source )
When it comes to false claims, this image keeps cropping up:
So is it true that Coca-Cola contains a substance extracted from the cochineal insect to give it its characteristic brown color ?
We assume that the creators of this claim did not mean a cochineal insect , but a cochineal insect and this is again a scale insect ! In addition, in the first photo of the picture you can't see a cochineal scale insect, but rather a rain beetle.
So do these scale insects have something to do with the color? No.
Let's take a look at the main ingredients of Coca-Cola:
These are water, sugar, carbon dioxide, color E 150d, acidifier phosphoric acid, natural flavor including caffeine . The brown color of Coca-Cola is achieved through the use of caramel colorings, which are produced by the controlled heating of sugar. Caramel colorings are widely used in the food industry and are considered safe. And this is what lies behind the aforementioned dye E 150d. The whole thing is called ammonium sulfite caramel and is made from caramelized sugar. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment explains that acids as well as sulfites and/or ammonium compounds are used to accelerate caramelization
Cochineal, also known as carmine, is a red dye obtained from the females and eggs of cochineal insects. This dye is used in some foods and cosmetics, such as lipsticks. However, this dye is not contained in Coca-Cola .
Fact Check: Coca-Cola and the Insect Dye Claims
In this fact check, we'll examine some of the claims circulating about Coca-Cola regarding insect pigments, particularly cochineal, and the drink's composition.
Do lice give the drink its color?
Incorrect. Coca-Cola's signature brown color is achieved through the use of caramel coloring, which is produced by the controlled heating of sugar. Lice or insect pigments such as cochineal are not included in the composition of Coca-Cola.
The females and eggs of these insects produce a pigment that can also be found in lipsticks and that turns Coca-Cola brown.
Incorrect. The pigment obtained from the females and eggs of cochineal insects is a red dye called carmine. Carmine is used in some foods and cosmetics, such as lipsticks, but not in Coca-Cola. Coca-Cola's brown color comes from caramel coloring made by heating sugar.
In 2006, Turkey launched a lawsuit against Coca-Cola for the first time in the world because of the drink's composition.
There have been some discussions and controversies about Coca-Cola in the past in various countries, including Turkey. However, it is difficult to find reliable information about a specific trial against Coca-Cola in Turkey in 2006 regarding the drink's composition. Without further information and sources, it is difficult to confirm or refute this claim.
Does Coca-Cola contain insect ingredients?
Incorrect. Coca-Cola does not contain any insect ingredients. Coca-Cola's main ingredients are water, sugar, carbonation, natural flavors and caffeine. Insect dyes or other insect components are not included in the composition of Coca-Cola.
The name “Coca” or “Coca Cola” came from the cochineal insect!
Incorrect. Cochineal is actually an insect, although the word “Coca” in the name “Coca-Cola” has nothing to do with cochineal or insects. The name “Coca-Cola” comes from two of its original ingredients: the leaves of the coca plant and kola nuts, which contain caffeine. The coca plant (Erythroxylum coca) is a species of plant in the Erythroxylaceae family and has no connection to cochineal or insects
Since the claim repeatedly mentions the dark sides of Coca-Cola, we don't want to ignore them!
The dark side of Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is one of the most famous and widely consumed drinks in the world. However, despite its popularity, there are some downsides associated with the company and consumption of the drink. In this article we will shed light on some of these downsides.
- ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The production of Coca-Cola drinks requires large amounts of water and energy. The environmental impact is significant, particularly in regions where water is scarce. Furthermore, the use of single-use plastic bottles and cans contributes to environmental pollution and the global plastic waste problem.
- Health Concerns: Coca-Cola and other sugary drinks are linked to various health problems, such as obesity, diabetes, tooth decay and cardiovascular disease. Regular consumption of such drinks can increase the risk of these diseases.
- Worker Rights and Working Conditions: Coca-Cola has received criticism in the past over working conditions at some of its bottling plants. Allegations range from inadequate wages to unsafe working conditions to disregard for workers' rights and unions.
- Exploitation of Natural Resources: Coca-Cola has caused exploitation of natural resources such as water and land in some countries in which it operates. In some cases this has led to water shortages and social conflict.
- Marketing Practices: Coca-Cola is known for its aggressive marketing strategies, especially in developing countries. In some cases, the company has been accused of using unethical marketing practices to promote consumption of their products without pointing out the possible health consequences.
While Coca-Cola is a globally known and appreciated beverage, there are still some downsides associated with the company and the consumption of the beverage. Consumers should be aware of these issues and may consider more sustainable and healthy alternatives.
In line with this topic:
Notes:
1) This content reflects the current state of affairs at the time of publication. The reproduction of individual images, screenshots, embeds or video sequences serves to discuss the topic. 2) Individual contributions were created through the use of machine assistance and were carefully checked by the Mimikama editorial team before publication. ( Reason )