This is in regards to the question answered by Cecil here: http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_033.html
“Shortly thereafter Coke quietly switched from fresh to “spent” coca leaves (i.e., what’s left over after the cocaine has been removed). It also stopped advertising Coke as a cure for what ails you and instead promoted it simply as a refreshing beverage.”
Wait a second… what does Coca Cola do with all that removed cocaine?
Presumably Coca Cola receives the “spent” leaves in the first instance, and does not receive “fresh” leaves, removes the cocaine and then uses these “spent” leaves.
Well, first of all, they no longer use any part of the coca plant. But back then, when they first switched, when cocaine was not yet regulated, they just aquired the leaves already spent.
They now use kola nuts.
Can somebody tell me what happens to all the opium that McDonalds (allegedly) have never put in their milkshakes?
They always used kola nuts. That’s where the name ‘Coca-Cola’ came from … the original syrup was supposed to have medicinal properties, the active ingredients being cocaine and caffeine, extracted from coca leaves and kola nuts respectively.
Since this is a comment on one of Cecil’s columns, I’ll move this thread to the Comments on Cecil’s Columns forum.
Coca-Cola does indeed contain an extract made from decocanized coca leaves. William Poundstone (he of the Poundstonian heresy) has a chapter about it in his book Big Secrets. The amount of coca leaf used is tiny, about 1 gram of unprocessed coca leaf is used to make a batch of 6.5 gallons of Coca-Cola. It contributes nothing to the flavor of the final product, but they might get in trouble with the government if they stopped using it, because “coca” is part of the name of the product. The amount of kola extract used is likewise tiny and also contributes nothing to the flavor.
Poundstone doesn’t say what happens to the leftover cocaine. Keep in mind that cocaine, unlike heroin, has legal uses as a pharmaceutical in the U.S. (requiring a prescription, of course). It may be that Coca-Cola sells its cocaine to pharmaceutical companies or that it buys its spent leaf from pharmaceutical companies.
The Honorary Consul to Munich for a certain South American nation (use your imagination) once divulged to me that the Coca Cola Company is the world’s largest single buyer of legal coca leaves,. Apparently they vastly surpass the pharmaceuticals as single units although as an industry they buy more. According to this fine gentleman the residual cocaine is sold to the pharmaceutical industry.
The conversation ensued at a social function when I noted with a raised eyebrow that he was wearing a silver coca leaf on his lapel. He responded with a raised eyebrow himself a slow nod and a peculiar smile saying; “What is more astounding is that you know what it is.” Needless to say we thus gained some mutual respect.
Sparc
From Snopes:
I stand corrected; thanks, biblio et al.
If you’re interested in more detailed information about the early history of this most fascinating beverage, I strongly recommend you find and read For God, Country, and Coca-Cola by Mark Pendergrast. The coca/kola formulation is discussed extensively.