Why Coke beat Pepsi for the last 100+ years

Re:Why Coke beat Pepsi for the last 100+ years by bmelton on Tuesday July 28, 2009 @01:30PM (#728344)

If I am not mistaken, they quit using 'cocaine' in the recipe sometime in the VERY early 1900s, though I believe they're still using coca leaves in the product.

I suspect that there are no people who have tasted the original, cocaine-infused Coca-Cola that are still alive today, so I doubt it contributes to its market superiority.

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Re:Why Coke beat Pepsi for the last 100+ years by philwelch on Tuesday July 28, 2009 @02:12PM (#728442)

Stepan Company, a Coca-Cola contractor, has I believe the only U.S. license to import coca leaves and extract all of the cocaine from them. The cocaine is then sold to Mallinckrodt Incorporated, the only American company permitted to supply cocaine or cocaine-derived pharmaceuticals.

Coca-Cola never had cocaine added as an ingredient, only whatever remained in the leaves.

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