Coca in Coca-Cola?

The film 'Bolivian Marching Powder' at VBS.TV is well worth a watch. It follows VBS reporter, Trace Crutchfield, as he explores the legal coca leaf production and sale systems in Bolivia. He gets to speak to Evo Morales for about 20 seconds too.

During the film, Crutchfield enquires as to whether anyone from outside Bolivia purchases coca leaf. The response is immediate: yes, the Coca-Cola Company buys loads of the stuff. It transpires that apparently despite an American war on coca, that most American of brands does indeed buy tonnes of coca leaf every year, which it uses for flavouring in its delicious, sweet beverage.

Apparently, the Coca-Cola Company flat denies these purchases. Well of course they would, right? I'm not decided: it looks to me as if they're buying the stuff but they deny they're putting it in their drink. So where's it going, then? This wag suggests that if the leaf isn't going into Coca-Cola then they ought to be investigated.

For the moment, I'm going to steer clear of Coca-Cola. Except at weekends, obviously.

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I should add that everything at VBS.TV is well worth a watch. It can be pretty challenging and - at times - morally questionable but it's full of interesting, hilarious moments. And good music.

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February 24, 2007 | Filed Under General 

Comments

4 Responses to “Coca in Coca-Cola?”

  1. Ian Llorens on February 24th, 2007 4:20 pm

    Some time ago, I came across the following Supreme court case UNITED STATES v. COCA COLA COMPANY OF ATLANTA.

    SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES No. 562
    1916.SCT.297 , 241 U.S. 265, 60 L. Ed. 995, 36 S. Ct. 573
    May 22, 1916

    In the body of the ruling, it is mentioned:

    "It is further stated that in manufacturing in accordance with the formula "certain extracts from the leaves of the Coca shrub and the nut kernels of the Cola tree were used for the purpose of obtaining a flavor" and that "the ingredient containing these extracts," with cocaine eliminated, is designated as "Merchandise No. 5."

  2. Nick on February 27th, 2007 12:01 am

    Cheers for tip about VBS TV. What an incredible TV project. They've got some amazingly brave reporting on there. In particular, I just watched two of the founders of Vice risk their neck and go to Baghdad in search of the city's only heavy metal band. However, the majority of the film simply followed them around Baghdad risking life and limb simply walking around during curfews with one amazing visit to the Hotel Palestine that used to be a hive of activity and is now completely abandoned. I learned more about the reality of what living in Iraq is really like in those 20 minutes than hours of TV news. Full credit to the Vice founders, who I'm sure hardly needed to put their lives on the line like that, for an amazing report. I'll certainly be watching more.

    You can watch the Iraq film here: http://www.vbs.tv/player.php?bctid=452299431

  3. Rab on March 4th, 2007 2:06 pm

    "Apparently, the Coca-Cola Company flat denies these purchases. Well of course they would, right? I'm not decided: it looks to me as if they're buying the stuff but they deny they're putting it in their drink. So where's it going, then? This wag suggests that if the leaf isn't going into Coca-Cola then they ought to be investigated."

    I think someone at Coca-Cola is stepping over the line…

  4. bill on March 4th, 2007 3:28 pm

    That Crutchfield and the rest of the VICE guys are hitting the open and not so open road to capture stories with a flair lacking elsewhere is welcome news indeed.. Thanks for the vbs.tv tip

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