The Nature of Soft Drinks
The soft drinks that are produced and marketed by The Coca-Cola Company are refreshing thirst quenchers which provide refreshment, enjoyment and satisfaction. Soft drinks basically contain carbonated or non-carbonated water, sugar or non-nutritive sweeteners and flavours. Depending on the beverage, some may contain colourants, preservatives, acidulants, emulsifiers and juice. All the ingredients that are used in our soft drinks are safe for their intended use and have been thoroughly tested and are approved for use by the health and regulatory officials of the countries in which they are sold.

While providing consumers with simple but gratifying moments of pleasure, Coca-Cola and allied beverages of The Coca-Cola Company are synonymous with excellence and consistent high quality. This is true regardless of whether the products are consumed from bottles, cans or cups anywhere in the world. The basic ingredients and processes used in the manufacture of the Company’s soft drinks are uniform in all bottling plants worldwide. In recent years the Company’s portfolio of products has expanded in response to changing consumer tastes and preferences. This expansion includes various non-carbonated products like sports drinks. (POWERADE).

Will a tooth disappear if immersed in Coca-Cola?
No, it will not. A toot which is left in ay acidic solution, including Coca-Cola or orange juice, will begin to decalcify (loose calcium) over time. In the mouth, teeth are exposed to a soft drink or other acidic beverage for a short period of time and are constantly bathed in a protective bath of saliva. Saliva acts as a buffer and neutralizes the effect of any acidic solution. Furthermore, our teeth are continuously bathed in the fluoride and calcium in the saliva, which helps to restore these minerals in our teeth. This protection is lost when an extracted tooth is placed in a glass of liquid.

Why does Coca-Cola clean windscreens and rusty nails?
You can use a wide array of common household substances to clean with, including water. All carbonated soft drinks, including Coca-Cola, contain a small amount of carbonic acid, which is a weak acid and 100 % safe to consume. Coca-Cola does contain very small amounts of phosphoric acid which is not strong enough to be used as a cleaner. You will be better off using products specifically made for cleaning, which won’t leave a sticky residue behind Any acidic solution will help remove rust and residue from some surfaces. Since there is a small amount of acid present in many foods, including fruit juices, buttermilk and soft drinks like Coca-Cola, it is possible that the acid in many of these products could have the effect described.

What is aspartame?
Aspartame is a low-calorie sweetener made primarily of two amino acids, aspartic acid and phenylalanine. These amino acids are two of the chief components of proteins and are found naturally in nearly all protein-containing foods, including meats, grains, and dairy products. Aspartame is 180-200 times sweeter than sugar.

Is aspartame safe?
Yes, it is. Government regulatory authorities in more than 90 countries worldwide have approved the use of aspartame. Aspartame has also been reviewed and found safe by the Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA), the Scientific Committee for Food of the European Union, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (FDA). Aspartame is approved for use in some African countries such as SA, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique. Persons with a rare hereditary disease (1 in 15,000) known as phenylketonuria (PKU) must control their dietary intake of phenylalanine from all food sources, including aspartame-containing products. Since aspartame contains phenylalanine, several governments require that aspartame-containing products contain a warning indicating this for the safety of the few in the population with this disease.

Why is there a statement on the label of your aspartame-containing products "contains phenylalanine"?
Some individuals with a rare disease known as phenylketonuria (PKU) are unable to metabolize phenylalanine adequately and need to control their intake of the amino acid from all food sources. All products formulated with aspartame carry a statement on the label that phenylalanine is present. In many countries, the statement is required by law. However, the wording may vary among countries. A NOTE ABOUT PKU: PKU is a relatively rare genetic disease occurring in about one out of every 15,000 people. Individuals with PKU cannot metabolize the essential amino acid phenylalanine, one of the components of aspartame. In untreated PKU, extremely high blood phenylalanine concentrations result in a clinical syndrome which includes mental retardation and other neurological defects.

Are your diet/light products suitable for diabetics?
Yes, our line of (diet/light) soft drinks are either calorie-free or very low calorie and are suitable for diabetics. The 2004 policy of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) for people with diabetes states that even sugar-containing foods and beverages can be consumed by diabetics as long as their total caloric intake remains within the recommended level. The Canadian Diabetes Association (1999) agree with this recommendation.

Are soft drinks nutritious?
Soft drinks should be considered as one of many foods or drinks that can be part of a nutritionally balanced diet. Carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks provide essential fluids and those with nutritive sweeteners provide calories which the body uses for energy. In addition, some of our beverages contain nutrients such as vitamin C or calcium.

Are The Coca-Cola Company’s soft drink packages recyclable?
Yes. All our packages are recyclable. Soft drink containers are among the most recycled packaging.

How safe are The Coca-Cola Company’s products?
The Coca-Cola Company has an uncompromising commitment to product safety. All of the ingredients used in products sold in the countries in Southern Africa comply with the relevant regulations in those countries.

Why does the taste of Coca-Cola vary from time to time or place to place? Or why does Coca-Cola in cans appear to taste different from that in glass bottles?
Different consumers perceive taste in different ways. It is, however, possible for the same soft drink to vary slightly in taste due to such factors as the temperature at which it is consumed, or the condition of storage of the product prior to consumption. Also, some carbonation can be lost during pouring and/or serving.

How much sugar is in a Coca-Cola?
In general, the amount of sugar in most soft drinks, including Coca-Cola, is between 8% and 13% of the finished product. This is similar to the amount that is found in fruit juices.

How is the water in your plants treated?
We use tested and approved water from municipal water supplies or boreholes. It is our policy to further treat all water used in our plants to manufacture our products. Our facilities employ multiple steps in the treatment process, similar to that used by many municipalities, to further assure the safety and quality of the water used in making our products.