What's in it?

What's in the best of the best?

Carbonated beverages are the best selling grocery item in America.

Coca-Cola is the best selling carbonated beverage in America.

Let's start there. (I'm using a 12 oz can for reference)

So what's in it?

Carbonated Water

water into which carbon dioxide gas under pressure has been dissolved, a process that causes the water to become effervescent

High Fructose Corn Syrup 

any of a group of corn syrups that has undergone enzymatic processing to convert some of its glucose into fructose to produce a desired sweetness.

Caffeine

bitter, white crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as a stimulant drug. Caffeine is found in varying quantities in the seeds, leaves, and fruit of some plants, where it acts as a natural pesticide that paralyzes and kills certain insects feeding on the plants ( Toxic at high levels)

Phosphoric Acid

Used as acidulant in soda (Not to be confused with Phosphoric Acid used for cleaning metal!)

Caramel Color

artificial brown coloring made by reacting sugars with ammonia and sulfites under high pressure and temperatures. Chemical reactions result in the formation of 2-methylimidazole and 4 methylimidazole, which in government-conducted studies caused lung, liver, or thyroid cancer or leukemia in laboratory mice or rats.

Natural Flavoring

The term natural flavor or natural flavoring means the essential oil, oleoresin, essence or extractive, protein hydrolysate, distillate, or any product of roasting, heating or enzymolysis, which contains the flavoring constituents derived from a spice, fruit or fruit juice, vegetable or vegetable juice, edible yeast, herb, bark, bud, root, leaf or similar plant material, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy products, or fermentation products thereof, whose significant function in food is flavoring rather than nutritional. 


(Update: It is Vegan, so none of the "natural flavors" are animal derived!)

Yay! Who wants to go out for Coke?