What is Coke made of? And Who Grows it?
Presently, Coca-Cola gets its flavour from Coca leaves. During the cocaine extraction process, all traces of cocaine are removed prior to making the concentrate [3]. This process is done by the Stepan Company plant in Maywood, New Jersey. This plant is the only one in the United States that has the legal ability to import Coca leaves, predominantly from Peru and Brazil. Once the cocaine is extracted, the leaves are sold to the Coca-Cola Company, while the leftover cocaine is sold to a pharmaceutical firm called "Mallinckrodt," where it is used for medical use [4].
Another ingredient found in Coca-Cola is the Kola nut. Kola nuts are grown in Africa and imported to the United States, where they supply Coca-Cola with caffeine, an addictive drug.
[3] Bofah, Kofi. "What Is Coke Made Of?" EHow. October 05, 2009. Accessed June 02, 2012. http://www.ehow.com/about_5498134_coke-made.html.
[4] "Stepan Company." Wikipedia. Accessed June 02, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepan_Company
[5] Coca Leaves. Digital image. The World Reporter. Accessed June 2, 2012. http://www.theworldreporter.com/2011/01/bolivia-and-coca-diplomacy.html.
[4] "Stepan Company." Wikipedia. Accessed June 02, 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stepan_Company
[5] Coca Leaves. Digital image. The World Reporter. Accessed June 2, 2012. http://www.theworldreporter.com/2011/01/bolivia-and-coca-diplomacy.html.