Re: [SLUG] how can you improve this?

From: michael hast (evylrobot19@cox.net)
Date: Tue Sep 19 2006 - 08:45:21 EDT


Paul M Foster wrote:
> michael hast wrote:
>> Paul M Foster wrote:
>>> Robert Snyder wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>
>>> Paul
>>>
>> I'm pretty sure that there is no caffeine in the coca leaf, but there
>> is coca in Coca Cola according to this,
>>
>> "According to popular belief, the coca leaf extract cocaine
>> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocaine> was once added to Coca-Cola,
>> per se. Because cocaine is naturally present in untreated coca
>> leaves, small amounts of cocaine were also present in the beverage.
>> Today's Coca-Cola uses "spent" coca leaves, those that have been
>> through a cocaine extraction process, to flavor the beverage. Since
>> this process cannot extract the cocaine alkaloids
>> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkaloids> at a molecular level, the
>> drink still contains trace amounts of the stimulant^[25]
>> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca_Cola#_note-20> . The United States
>> DEA <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_Enforcement_Administration>
>> oversees the importation of coca for Coca-Cola, and later sale of the
>> extracted cocaine to the drug industry
>> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmaceutical_company>.^[26]
>> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca_Cola#_note-21>"" --
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca_Cola
>
> As we all should know by now, Wiki is not always the most reliable
> source of information on any subject.
>
> Originally, Coca Cola *did* have cocaine in it, long before it was
> considered harmful. In fact, it started out as a patent medicine.
> However, because of eventual public outcry, the cocaine was removed.
> And much later, an additional process was created to remove all but
> *trace* amounts of it. Nowadays, Coke is made with powders and
> solutions far removed from the actual coca plants. The caffeine added
> is purchased in purified form for the purpose of adding to the
> beverage. Any traces of actual coca compounds (*if* there are any) at
> this stage are incidental and largely unavoidable.
>
> My information comes from a show called "Modern Marvels", a recent
> episode on cola drinks. There were people from Coca Cola and Pespico
> there to explain various aspects of its history, and I rather doubt
> all this went forward without the blessing of both companies.
> Moreover, I find it pretty far fetched to imagine that the DEA imports
> controlled substances for the benefit of a single American company, so
> that company can advertise its beverages to children. (Please, no
> tin-foil hat aficionados.)
>
>
> Paul
>
Okay. Fair enough.

-- 
"You can tell the ideals of a nation by its advertisements." ~ Norman Douglas

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