Coke: Ethical Issues

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Excerpts

Dr. John Pemberton, an Atlanta-based pharmacist, developed the original formula of Coke in 1886. It was based on a combination of oils, extracts from coca leaves (cola nut) and various other additives. The ingredients were refined to create a refreshing carbonated soda. Pemberton's bookkeeper, Frank Robinson, suggested that the product be named 'Coca-Cola'. He even developed a way of lettering Coca-Cola in a distinctively flowing script. On May 8, 1886, Coke went on sale for the first time in the Joe Jacobs Drug Store...

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The exclusive school contracts allowed Coke exclusive rights to sell its products - soda, juices, and bottled water - in all the public schools of a district. Under the plan, the schools got $350,000 as an "up front"money and a percentage which ranged from 50 percent to 65 percent of total sales...

While Coke faced a lot of criticism from health experts and public agencies for targeting school children during 1998-1999, the company received a major setback during the European crisis in which school children were the major victims. After the crisis, Coke investigated the problem by testing the suspect batches for chemicals. The company claimed that the tests showed nothing toxic in the beverages. However, to explain the whole crisis, Philippe Lenfant, general manager of Coke Belgium, said that there had been separate errors at two plants...

Exhibit I: Seven Categories of Schoolhouse Commercialism
Exhibit II: Health Impact of Soft Drinks
Exhibit III: Rising Consumption of Soft Drinks