Coke is really addictive! Method: Contains trace amounts of alcohol

In the hot summer, drinking a can of cool and refreshing cola is a habit for many young people. Some people even drink it to the point of causing health problems but still cannot quit, which makes people wonder if cola has any "fatal attraction". The French National Consumer Institute (L'institut National de la Consummation, INC) published a study on the 27th, showing that the two major brands of cola on the market both contain trace amounts of alcohol (l'achool), which may explain the phenomenon of addiction, but also caused religious controversy.

According to a report by French weekly L'express, the results of the study were published in 60 Million de consommation magazine on the 27th, indicating that more than half of the colas sold in France contain trace amounts of alcohol, with a concentration of about 0.001%, or 10 mg per liter. Interestingly, both Coca-Cola and Pepsi, the two leading brands, admitted that some ingredients do produce alcohol reactions during the manufacturing process, just as some fruits themselves contain alcohol, so they will not deliberately avoid it, but they have repeatedly emphasized that alcohol is absolutely not used.

Sipping Coke one sip after another, it turns out that it is the trace amount of alcohol in it that causes addiction. (Photo/taken from France's "Le Figaro")

The controversy caused by this result is that many young Muslims cannot drink alcohol due to religious teachings, and the proportion of them drinking cola is quite high. Whether the trace amount of alcohol contained in it makes everyone "break the rules" has caused heated discussions in the Muslim community. Michel Pepin, one of the executives of Coca-Cola France, said that the Paris Mosque Committee (Comité de la Mosquée de Paris) had earlier made a statement that the company's products complied with the Islamic prohibition of alcohol and that drinking them was not illegal.

French newspaper Le Figaro also pointed out that according to researchers' investigations, the sugar content of all colas is alarmingly high, with an average of 100 grams of sugar per liter, equivalent to 17 sugar cubes; in addition, the American formula uses more corn syrup (des sirops de maïs), while the French formula does not. What’s worse is that the caffeine content in them is almost always higher than 100 mg/1 liter, which is equivalent to 1 to 2 cups of coffee, which is far beyond the range that children can consume.

Many French nutritionists and doctors are very dissatisfied with the fact that the two "cola tycoons" do not disclose the ingredients of cola on the grounds of commercial confidentiality. In addition to the sugar content and caffeine mentioned above, the spices used also have potential risks. According to a doctor specializing in allergies, the "natural flavors" listed on ingredient labels may contain a variety of plant extracts and a substance called "terpenes" (des terpènes), which can trigger allergic symptoms in some children. However, manufacturers have never fulfilled their obligation to inform consumers.