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> keep the ingredients somewhere the customers can't see How do Coca-Cola get around having to list all ingredients when they sell a bottled product? They just

> keep the ingredients somewhere the customers can't see How do Coca-Cola get around having to list all ingredients when they sell a bottled product? They just list 'flavourings' don't they - what if you're allergic to one of the anonymous ingredients? Are they just not allergens? I guess a cocktail bar also has extra protection in that I think non-retail food and drinks don't have to list ingredients anyway.

xhevahir 4y ago
> How do Coca-Cola get around having to list all ingredients when they sell a bottled product? Lobbying, I guess? Regulatory capture?
elmepo 4y ago
I believe the real answer is that they probably do list all the ingredients on the label, because the reason why Coke makes so much money only is only partially because of the ingredients. The real secret is the exact weights of ingredients, production methods, and branding. In fact if my memory serves me correctly, an insider did in fact offer to sell the secret formula to Pepsi, who promptly reported it to Coke. After all, even if Pepsi did get the exact formula and reproduced it - they don't sell Coke, they sell Pepsi, and their market (presumably) prefers the taste of Pepsi to Coke, so changing the taste doesn't make much sense.
- brianwawok 4y ago
  Incorrect go look at a label.
- chrisseaton 4y ago
  > they probably do list all the ingredients on the label I mean look at the label and you can see this isn’t the case.
Cayde-6 4y ago
Certain ingredients can be listed as a "collective". See section (b) of FDA: CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?fr=101.4 https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfr...
SECProto 4y ago
> How do Coca-Cola get around having to list all ingredients when they sell a bottled product? They just list 'flavourings' don't they Per the FDA[1], "some ingredients can be listed collectively as "flavors," "spices," "artificial flavoring," or in the case of color additives exempt from certification, "artificial colors", without naming each one. Declaration of an allergenic ingredient in a collective or single color, flavor, or spice could be accomplished by simply naming the allergenic ingredient in the ingredient list." > what if you're allergic to one of the anonymous ingredients? Are they just not allergens? Basically the only regulated allergens in the US are[2] milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans [1] https://www.fda.gov/food/food-ingredients-packaging/overview-food-ingredients-additives-colors#qalabel https://www.fda.gov/food/food-ingredients-packaging/overview... [2] https://www.fda.gov/food/food-allergensgluten-free-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/food-allergen-labeling-and-consumer-protection-act-2004-falcpa https://www.fda.gov/food/food-allergensgluten-free-guidance-...
Cupertino95014 4y ago
There was an answer on Quora about this. You could look it up, but from memory: There's one ingredient (I think it's cola syrup but I could be wrong) which you can only get from one supplier, and Coke buys all of it.
- jazzyjackson 4y ago
  Coca Cola is the only authorized importer of the Coca leaf to USA. They have it shipped to New Jersey where it is decocainized. Coca-Cola gets their coca leaf flavoring, and the cocaine is distributed for medical use. (the cola half is the kola nut for caffeine)

xhevahir 4y ago

> How do Coca-Cola get around having to list all ingredients when they sell a bottled product? Lobbying, I guess? Regulatory capture?

elmepo 4y ago

I believe the real answer is that they probably do list all the ingredients on the label, because the reason why Coke makes so much money only is only partially because of the ingredients. The real secret is the exact weights of ingredients, production methods, and branding. In fact if my memory serves me correctly, an insider did in fact offer to sell the secret formula to Pepsi, who promptly reported it to Coke. After all, even if Pepsi did get the exact formula and reproduced it - they don't sell Coke, they sell Pepsi, and their market (presumably) prefers the taste of Pepsi to Coke, so changing the taste doesn't make much sense.

brianwawok 4y ago
Incorrect go look at a label.
chrisseaton 4y ago
> they probably do list all the ingredients on the label I mean look at the label and you can see this isn’t the case.

Cayde-6 4y ago

Certain ingredients can be listed as a "collective". See section (b) of FDA: CFR - Code of Federal Regulations Title 21 https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfrsearch.cfm?fr=101.4 https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfcfr/cfr...

SECProto 4y ago

> How do Coca-Cola get around having to list all ingredients when they sell a bottled product? They just list 'flavourings' don't they Per the FDA[1], "some ingredients can be listed collectively as "flavors," "spices," "artificial flavoring," or in the case of color additives exempt from certification, "artificial colors", without naming each one. Declaration of an allergenic ingredient in a collective or single color, flavor, or spice could be accomplished by simply naming the allergenic ingredient in the ingredient list." > what if you're allergic to one of the anonymous ingredients? Are they just not allergens? Basically the only regulated allergens in the US are[2] milk, eggs, fish, Crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, and soybeans [1] https://www.fda.gov/food/food-ingredients-packaging/overview-food-ingredients-additives-colors#qalabel https://www.fda.gov/food/food-ingredients-packaging/overview... [2] https://www.fda.gov/food/food-allergensgluten-free-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/food-allergen-labeling-and-consumer-protection-act-2004-falcpa https://www.fda.gov/food/food-allergensgluten-free-guidance-...

Cupertino95014 4y ago

There was an answer on Quora about this. You could look it up, but from memory: There's one ingredient (I think it's cola syrup but I could be wrong) which you can only get from one supplier, and Coke buys all of it.

jazzyjackson 4y ago
Coca Cola is the only authorized importer of the Coca leaf to USA. They have it shipped to New Jersey where it is decocainized. Coca-Cola gets their coca leaf flavoring, and the cocaine is distributed for medical use. (the cola half is the kola nut for caffeine)