Coca Cola – The 3rd Top Brand Causing Sweet Death!

Photo Credit: iStock.com/Artist’s bopav

Over the years, we have come across several controversial reports regarding the world’s most popular beverage; Coca-Cola. Just the sound of its name is enough to tempt soda lovers around the world. But, don’t we all, at the same time, vouch for the unhealthy effects it puts on our body’s mechanism? Indeed, most of us do. From the use of mercury to being a “killer coke,” Coca-Cola fans have heard it all and remained persistent against the odds.

The Coca-Cola Company has launched a promotional campaign this year in defense of its use of Aspartame in the cold-drinks. Aspartame is the typical alternative for a sweetener which is 200 times stronger in sweetness than actual sugar and is said to be used for weight control. It is mostly used for products; such as, sweets, cereals, desserts, yogurt, soft drinks, etc.

• The “Killer Coke” – Not Just a Controversy!

By this, I am not just referring to the Canadian film “The Coca-Cola Case,” which was about the murder of eight Coca-Cola bottlers in Columbia. Nor about the campaign called the Killer Coke (Murder: It’s The Real Thing) which demands a ban on the company’s products from university campuses.

What I am referring to is a number of things including the two mentioned in the above paragraph. The biggest and worst threat is possibly the use of aspartame in cold beverages.

• The Threat of Aspartame:

The new ad campaign was rolled out by the company in August this year which openly defends the use of artificial sweetener, i.e. aspartame, in dietary products.

The article featured in AdWeek says: “It’s Coca-Cola’s first ad explicitly defending its use of artificial sweeteners in an ad, but the print execution is an extension of the company’s campaign, launched this January, to combat detractors who blame it for contributing to obesity, by pointing to the host of diet and other beverages it sells beyond traditional, sugary cola.”

However, Michael F. Jacobson, the executive director of theCenter for Science in the Public Interest, was the first to hit back on such claims. He said “Aspartame has been found to cause cancer—leukemia, lymphoma, and other tumors — in laboratory animals, and it shouldn’t be in the food supply.”

Research also reveals an increase in appetite, carbs cravings, fat storage and weight gain after using the artificially sweetened “diet” drinks and foods.

Other ingredients making it unfavorable are: Phosphoric Acid, high fructose corn syrup, sodium Benzoate, citric acid, and mercury, etc. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study some years ago which provided evidence for the connection between soda consumption and lower bone density. Also the presence of Bisphenol A, Alcohol, and Benzene makes it rather dangerous to consume as a normal human dietary stuff. Just the fact the benzene is a natural constituent of gasoline and crude oil makes it a first class human carcinogen.

• Why Only Coke??

So, why are we focusing so much on Coke’s use of aspartame when it is, literally, the most commonly used ingredient in all diet food? Whether it’s a dessert or carbonated drinks, any diet conscious person looks for a healthier alternative and most of us fall into the trap of artificial sweeteners.

The answer to this question is simple, though. The Interbrand list of Global Brands, currently, presents Coca-Cola as the 3rd top brand of the world. It is one of the most powerful companies in the international food industry driving $ 79,213m revenue. If a company that big is luring customers into making bad choices, leading to a slow death, we have no hope leaving a better future for our upcoming generations. Heck, we have little hope of living a healthy life even now. In order to determine how much an average customer is aware of this threat, we welcome you to take part in our weekly poll. The results will be published on our blog later on.