Coca-Cola was accused of what amounts to corruption of a minor when a Facebook advertising campaign for Dr. Pepper referred to the "2 Girls, 1 Cup" YouTube video -- which is disturbingly pornographic -- on a 14-year-old, British girl's account. When the girl read the message, she searched for the video. When her mom found out about the whole thing, she was "absolutely fizzing with rage and disgust," as she posted on Mumsnet, a social network for parents. She asked Coca-Cola for an apology and full explanation.
The campaign allowed users to sign-up with Coca-Cola (Dr. Pepper), which then sent embarrassing status updates from their accounts. A winner was to be announced and awarded a cash prize. The corporation said it is looking into what happened, but one of the other status updates from the campaign was, "Never heard it described as cute before." Coca-Cola admits that they had approved the offending message without realizing its true nature.
Coca-Cola offered the mom a hotel room and tickets to a live show, which she refused.
© C Harris Lynn, 2010
A rambling melange of pop-culture.
Showing posts with label coca cola. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coca cola. Show all posts
Monday, July 26, 2010
Friday, April 30, 2010
Coca-Colla and The Real Coke
Coca-Cola's first formula contained an ingredient which provided drinkers with a bit more of a boost than caffeine; Coca-Cola originally contained cocaine, despite the company's insistence that it never did. In fact, Coca-Cola was literally named for its two main ingredients: the Coca plant (Coca), and the kola nut (Cola). Everyone knows this, though, apparently, some people still find it hard to believe. According to some sources, cocaine remained an ingredient of Coca-Cola until 1929; others say the famous soda still includes traces of the coca leaf - though it is now denatured coca leaves (meaning the cocaine has already been extracted).
The truth is that most soft drinks of the late 1800s (when Coca-Cola was first made and sold) contained cocaine, so it was not unusual. Like these other soft drinks, Coca-Cola was originally marketed as a medicine, and an alternative to alcoholic beverages. Though the company claims the "original" recipe is still used, Coca-Cola's famous recipe has actually been altered a few times over the years, so no Coca-Cola today can truly be called "The Real Thing."
Now, a Bolivian company is manufacturing a cocaine-laced soft drink called Coca-Colla. While the "Colla" bit is actually named for the Colla people of the Bolivian highlands, the "Coca" is absolutely in reference to the coca plant, which is a major ingredient of Coca-Colla.
Bolivia has tried to stop cultivation of the coca plant in the past, largely at America's behest, but their new president, Evo Morales, is a coca grower who publicly champions the crop as a legitimate product with many uses. While it has established a "zero-tolerance" policy for cocaine, Morales' administration has encouraged Bolivian companies to use coca in products including tea, syrup, liqueurs - even toothpaste - and has backed Coca-Colla from the start.
"The industrialization of coca interests us," the deputy minister of rural development told reporters. If the products containing coca are successful, the government has vowed to increase the number of acres set aside for coca production from 30,000 acres to 50,000 acres. Obviously - and sadly - the American government has already condemned this, saying the majority of the coca plants would be used for the production of cocaine.
In 2005, the Paez Indians of Columbia created Coca Sek, a soft drink made of coca leaves, and distributed crushed coca leaves as tea. The coca leaf is used daily in most parts of South America, and has been used for cooking, medicinal purposes, and in religious rites for centuries. The Paez said they were trying to disassociate the coca leaf from cocaine, "We wanted to convince people that coca is not the same as the drug, and allow indigenous people to be proud of the leaf," David Curtido, who lead the Coca Sek and coca-based products projects. Coca Sek was banned in 2006, thanks to pressure from the UN's international narcotics control board.
Coca-Colla is bottled with a red label. Experts expect the Coca-Cola company to file suit against the maker, but the Atlanta, Georgia-based corporation has not responded to questions concerning Coca-Colla.
© C Harris Lynn, 2010
The truth is that most soft drinks of the late 1800s (when Coca-Cola was first made and sold) contained cocaine, so it was not unusual. Like these other soft drinks, Coca-Cola was originally marketed as a medicine, and an alternative to alcoholic beverages. Though the company claims the "original" recipe is still used, Coca-Cola's famous recipe has actually been altered a few times over the years, so no Coca-Cola today can truly be called "The Real Thing."
Now, a Bolivian company is manufacturing a cocaine-laced soft drink called Coca-Colla. While the "Colla" bit is actually named for the Colla people of the Bolivian highlands, the "Coca" is absolutely in reference to the coca plant, which is a major ingredient of Coca-Colla.
Bolivia has tried to stop cultivation of the coca plant in the past, largely at America's behest, but their new president, Evo Morales, is a coca grower who publicly champions the crop as a legitimate product with many uses. While it has established a "zero-tolerance" policy for cocaine, Morales' administration has encouraged Bolivian companies to use coca in products including tea, syrup, liqueurs - even toothpaste - and has backed Coca-Colla from the start.
"The industrialization of coca interests us," the deputy minister of rural development told reporters. If the products containing coca are successful, the government has vowed to increase the number of acres set aside for coca production from 30,000 acres to 50,000 acres. Obviously - and sadly - the American government has already condemned this, saying the majority of the coca plants would be used for the production of cocaine.
In 2005, the Paez Indians of Columbia created Coca Sek, a soft drink made of coca leaves, and distributed crushed coca leaves as tea. The coca leaf is used daily in most parts of South America, and has been used for cooking, medicinal purposes, and in religious rites for centuries. The Paez said they were trying to disassociate the coca leaf from cocaine, "We wanted to convince people that coca is not the same as the drug, and allow indigenous people to be proud of the leaf," David Curtido, who lead the Coca Sek and coca-based products projects. Coca Sek was banned in 2006, thanks to pressure from the UN's international narcotics control board.
Coca-Colla is bottled with a red label. Experts expect the Coca-Cola company to file suit against the maker, but the Atlanta, Georgia-based corporation has not responded to questions concerning Coca-Colla.
© C Harris Lynn, 2010
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Coca-Cola Auction Prices
You might not know it, but one of the first things that come to peoples' minds when they think of America is Coca-Cola. Invented by a pharmacist in 1886, John Pemberton first mixed the formula in a three-legged brass kettle in his backyard in Atlanta, GA.
Coca-Cola recently purchased Glaceau, a New York-based health drink firm, in an attempt to get in on the booming health drink fad. It remains the #1 soft drink in the UK, but sales have slipped here in America over the last few years. But Coca-Cola memorabilia remains as popular as ever.
Recently, at a Morphy's auction, Coca-Cola collectibles topped the charts:
Coca-Cola recently purchased Glaceau, a New York-based health drink firm, in an attempt to get in on the booming health drink fad. It remains the #1 soft drink in the UK, but sales have slipped here in America over the last few years. But Coca-Cola memorabilia remains as popular as ever.
Recently, at a Morphy's auction, Coca-Cola collectibles topped the charts:
- 1898 Embossed Light Cardboard Coca-Cola Calendar: $23,000
- Cardboard Coca-Cola Chewing Gum Dutch Boy Die-Cut: $17,500
- 1931 Cardboard Coca-Cola Birthstones Festoon: $12,500
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Woman Busted Selling Coke
No, this is not another Paris post.
Joya Williams, former administrative assistant for the Coca-Cola company, and two co-conspirators have been sentenced for conspiracy to sell the American cola company's trade secrets. According to reports, the trio conspired to sell new Coke products to mega-rival, PepsiCo, for $1.5 million.
To their credit, PepsiCo alerted the Coca-Cola Company as to the goings-on and, working with FBI agents, managed to ensnare the group in an undercover sting operation. Joya Williams and her co-conspirators offered PepsiCo samples of new Coke products, as well as secrets to their cola formula.
Williams was sentenced to 8 years in federal prison for her role in the plot.
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