Debunking a Coke myth

[David Wong]

So the claim has been circulating out there for years that commercial trucks hauling Coca-Cola have to have "Corrosive Materials" place cards on them. This is of course quoted as proof that Coke will kill you if you drink it (right alongside myths like a tooth left in a jar of coke will dissolve overnight).

But while Snopes addresses all of those...

http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/acid.asp

...it doesn't address the "Corrosive Materials" transport rumor. Worse, a message board where this was brought up got several replies from truck drivers who said, yes, to deliver it you do in fact need the sign and a license to haul hazardous materials.

Anybody know why? Again I realize the heart of what it's trying to prove (COKE IS POISON!!!) is wrong, it's just this particular fact has turned out to be difficult to debunk.

[NobbyNobbs]

Seems easy enough to me to verify. Hang around the local restaurant or diner. When the Coke delivery truck pulls up, inspect it for a "corrosive materials" sign. If there is one, ask the driver why he's got it.

[David Wong]

Well I did find drivers who confirmed they had the signs, but they didn't seem to know why the material got that classification (isn't it the department of transportation or somebody who classifies materials as hazardous for transport?)

[NobbyNobbs]

I'm betting that it's "hazardous" because, should the truck crash and 45,000 gallons of Coke syrup be dumped into the local water supply, the wildlife in the area probably wouldn't respond favorably.

[Molinaro]

It's hazardous because they are carying a large number of pressurized containers.

[Mongrel]

It's hazardous because they are carying a large number of pressurized containers.

Not forgetting that they'd also carry undiluted syrup. When you drink it from the can it's mildly acidic, when it's in a 'raw' it's more acidic, when you're carrying a trailer load full of the stuff I imagine it's downright nasty.

[David Wong]

It's hazardous because they are carying a large number of pressurized containers.

Well now, back up.

According to the legend, it's not a generic "hazardous materials" sign that encompasses everything, but specifically a "Corrosive materials" sign. Pressurized tanks would get their own sign.

Though maybe that was the source of the myth. Do they deliver the CO2 tanks for the fountains along with the cola? For some reason I assumed those would be sold by separate companies.

[geni]

Do we actualy have solid evidence of it happening?

Remeber the syrup is much more concentrated than the stuff you drink. The Phosphoric acid might trigger it but doubtful. In some ways fire hazzard seems more likely.

[Delvo]

I work at a place where I occasionally see such things delivered. Next time, if I remember, I'll check the truck.

[UnrepentantSinner]

Though maybe that was the source of the myth. Do they deliver the CO2 tanks for the fountains along with the cola? For some reason I assumed those would be sold by separate companies.

IIRC restaurants receive their soda syrup from their supply distributor (Sysco for example) and get their CO2 from a local gas supply company.

[Safe-Keeper]

I've never seen a truck carrying soda labeled with 'corrosive materials'. At least not in Norway.

[Careyp74]

if the trucks delivering it need a hazardous material label, wouldn't companies using it need an msds sheet posted somewhere? I worked at a place that received shipments of syrup and we didn't have one, although we did have a sheet for the sanitary tabs and chlorine used in the dishwasher.

[H3LL]

There are many pictures of coca-cola trucks/lorries on the Internet, none seem to be carrying warning signs. For example:

http://www.sa-transport.co.za/trucks/m-b/mercedes_coca-cola_delivery_truck_dc06.JPG

Guidelines for the corrosive Hazard Warning Plate would be for substances that react on skin contact, such as battery acid.


.

[Confuseling]

Random off topic Coke fact: the pleasant sensation derived from the bubbles in carbonated drinks isn't stimulation of the touch sensing mechanoreceptors, but the pain sensing nociceptors. If you drink Coke you are a masochist.

[Cainkane1]

When I was a kid I put a tooth into a bottle of coke and I let it sit in the basement for two weeks. Tooth was still there. I guess the sugar in the coke is hazardous to a persons health for obvious reasons but it won't kill you outright.

[thrombus29]

Coke syrup isn't dangerous, when I was a kid I worked in a drugstore and we had it on the shelves, my boss said some people bought it for digestive reasons.

Also, it makes a good marinade for pork loin. It isn't as sweet as you might think, and it has some nice flavors.

[Dancing David]

I think this might eb a starting point:
http://www.nfpa.org/index.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1

and a defintion
http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ref/corrosive.html

There doesn't seem to be a specific MSDS safety sheet for the word Coka-Cola

Here is something that is the alleged recipe for Coca-Cola, it says that the syrup contains phosphoric acid.

http://inlet.org/adwatch/opencolaformula.htm

[elgarak]

Here is something that is the alleged recipe for Coca-Cola, it says that the syrup contains phosphoric acid.

http://inlet.org/adwatch/opencolaformula.htm
Well, it does say "PHOSPHORIC ACID" right here on my empty Coke can (under ingredients), as well as any other container you buy! No need to get all CTly and find some "alleged recipe"!

[shadron]

Coke syrup contains some phosphoric acid. When it is bottled (or delivered from a coke machine) it is charged with CO2, of course, which adds carbonic acid to it. The two together are what gives Coke its flavor "bite". When ready to drink, sodas vary from a pH of 4 to 2.5, with Coke Classic at the high acidic end (2.5). Some common substance's pH are listed here: http://web.jjay.cuny.edu/~acarpi/NSC/7-ph.htm. Yes, a Coke might well dissolve iron nails (sorta - reduce it to a pile of rust, better), but plain old water will do the same - the problem is in the physics of rust as opposed to anything in the liquids. Teeth and bones? They're pretty resistant to weak acids.

Note that vinegar has a pH down to 2. So dill pickle packing water is possibly more acidic than coke. I don't hear people riding dill pickles, but then I don't suppose Heinz is making the bucks that Coke is, Kerry's wife notwithstanding.

I've never heard of a hazardous warning on trucks carrying Coke or Coke syrup. I do know that raw Coke syrup was dispensed by pharmacists into the 1970's as a stomach soother, but I don't know if that's still the case.

The two drivers in the family say that trucks carrying Coke syrup interstate have to have HazMat placards because of the admittedly weak corrosive properties. Certainly, a Coke spill would be a positive mess, but I doubt it would corrode anything. Any liquid with Coke's properties that is as non-viscous as water might be an active problem.

[maxfrost]

I don't hear people riding dill pickles...

No, of course, not. That's just plain silly.

Cucumbers on the other hand...

[ktesibios]

Since a lot of the electronic equipment I work on (pro audio gear) gets used in places where people are drinking (clubs with live bands) I've seen a lot of gear that had drinks spilled on it.

In my experience, soda in general and Coca-Cola in particular, is the second* most corrosive substance I've ever seen go to work on a PC board.

* The most corrosive would be the time one of my cats peed on my answering machine. By the time I discovered what had happened and took the machine up to the shop to see what I could do with it there were green stalactites growing off the PCBs.

[sleeplessdwarf]

Wow. I drink a 12 pk each day(no exaggeration) I guess if I have to die of something it might as well be a coke OD. Seriously though, I must admit this was one I had never heard before.

[zaphod2016]

Wow. I drink a 12 pk each day(no exaggeration) I guess if I have to die of something it might as well be a coke OD. Seriously though, I must admit this was one I had never heard before.

I myself am a Pepsi addict, but the underlying problem is the same. If we keep chugging this crap, the odds are we will end up with diabetes. So in that sense, yes coke is deadly. But as far as being a deadly corrosive? I've handled raw coke syrup without any ill effects. It has the consistency of old maple syrup, and will not burn your hands on contact.

[shadron]

No, of course, not. That's just plain silly.

Cucumbers on the other hand...

Did I say that? Yes...I guess I did. Out to the re-education center with you, boy.

[shep]

I can't vouch for the sign story, but here's an anecdote: when I was young and irresponsible, a friend who worked at Burger King would bring over mostly-empty bags of the coke syrup that goes into the machine there, and we'd drink it either straight or with milk. (?!??!). Stupid or disgusting as it seems now, nothing bad every happened to our stomachs.

[AJM8125]

So the claim has been circulating out there for years that commercial trucks hauling Coca-Cola have to have "Corrosive Materials" place cards on them. This is of course quoted as proof that Coke will kill you if you drink it (right alongside myths like a tooth left in a jar of coke will dissolve overnight).

But while Snopes addresses all of those...

http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/acid.asp

...it doesn't address the "Corrosive Materials" transport rumor. Worse, a message board where this was brought up got several replies from truck drivers who said, yes, to deliver it you do in fact need the sign and a license to haul hazardous materials.

Anybody know why? Again I realize the heart of what it's trying to prove (COKE IS POISON!!!) is wrong, it's just this particular fact has turned out to be difficult to debunk.

Judging from the MSDS on Coca-cola, it can do some nasty things under the right conditions.

http://www.msdsxchange.com/english/show_msds.cfm?paramid1=75651

[Whiplash]

I'm betting that it's "hazardous" because, should the truck crash and 45,000 gallons of Coke syrup be dumped into the local water supply, the wildlife in the area probably wouldn't respond favorably.

Really? This seems like the makings of a great animated commercial for Coke. With fish all dancing around on the surface.. dear and bears coming along and gulping it down and then starting "getting jiggy with it". Some perplexed hunters come out of a bush and crack open a cold Coke from their coolers and join celebrations. Maybe a Superbowl commercial in high quality CGI.

[Dancing David]

Well, it does say "PHOSPHORIC ACID" right here on my empty Coke can (under ingredients), as well as any other container you buy! No need to get all CTly and find some "alleged recipe"!


Wow, you sure get excited don't you.

I suppose all people have access to Coke cans all the time and never make neutral statements about anything. And i suppose I should just take whatever I quote off the interent at face value.

Be sure to over react more, hmmmm? Do you see CT everywhere, how long has that been happening, does it follow you around?

Your psychic powers have failed you young jedi, your ability to read my intent and actions is lacking...

[fuelair]

Judging from the MSDS on Coca-cola, it can do some nasty things under the right conditions.

http://www.msdsxchange.com/english/show_msds.cfm?paramid1=75651
Uhh - that's the MSDS for Carbon Dioxide, not Coca Cola - and it is for Co2 in tanks, not in the Coca Cola.

[AJM8125]

Uhh - that's the MSDS for Carbon Dioxide, not Coca Cola - and it is for Co2 in tanks, not in the Coca Cola.

Yup. See how rumors get started? :D

[Toke]

Of cource it is dangerous.
On one trip from south africa to brasil we had a leak on a container with E150 caramel color for coca cola.
The wind had spread it all over the ship, and the AB´s spend a whole day washing down. We got a nice brown wake.

It looked just like fueloil, thik and black, if we had entered port like that, we would still be there trying to explain ourselves to the autorities.

[Mongrel]

Of cource it is dangerous.
On one trip from south africa to brasil we had a leak on a container with E150 caramel color for coca cola.
The wind had spread it all over the ship, and the AB´s spend a whole day washing down. We got a nice brown wake.

Not dangerous, just very concentrated ;)

Caramel colour is just burnt naturally coloured sugar

[Toke]

Yes I know, its more commonly use to make brown sauce. But try to explain that to a coastguarder when your ship is coated in black goo.
Image the headlines.

[Travis]

Concentrated orange juice is pretty damned corrosive too, same with lemonade. In fact lots of stuff we like to eat/drink are corrosive. However we usually just drink coke and don't smear the concentrated syrup all over our bodies and let it stay there.

[Spud1k]

I just had a check of the international shipping regulations (don't ask me where I originally got the document from - I can't remember). The only reference to beverages is UN3065, which classes alcoholic drinks as 'flammable liquids'. It also specifically states in section 2.2.1.1 that carbonated beverages do not count as compressed gases.

[shadron]

Really? This seems like the makings of a great animated commercial for Coke. With fish all dancing around on the surface.. dear and bears coming along and gulping it down and then starting "getting jiggy with it". Some perplexed hunters come out of a bush and crack open a cold Coke from their coolers and join celebrations. Maybe a Superbowl commercial in high quality CGI.

If you put that much Coke syrup in a water supply it could change the pH considerably, not to speak of loading it with dissolved carbohydrates. That probably won't harm the bears, but the fish who have to "breathe" the stuff will likely belly up in considerable numbers until the concentration goes far down. That may not be morally significant to you, but let's try a little analytics instead of fantasy, huh?

It is a fact that the DOT placards shipments of bulk Coke syrup (according to two drivers trained in different companies it was mentioned in their driver training). It is a corrosive because it contains acid and has an acidic pH. That may not be much to you - you stick your finger in, lick the syrup off and all is well, just as you might with orange juice or vinegar, but it will corrode metal. It's not very good for doing what acids do with all the sugar in the way, viscously blocking the transport of ions, but it will do the job if you can afford to wait long enough. As far as the DOT is concerned, it's an acid and its therefore placarded in bulk (in tank trucks and in box trucks containing carboys of syrup). It is not placarded in local delivery or when thinned down to drinking concentration (and, yes, acid pH is affected by concentration, so saying that Phosphoric acid has a pH of 2.8 means nothing unless you also mention the concentration).

I have not been able to find any official DOT mandated regulations. I think the reason for that is that the DOT won't mention brand names in that sort of context and because there are so many thousands of postings of that insipid anti-Coke emailing out there, slavishly identical in format. Read the snopes article on it - that about sums it all up.

[Edx]

Different question but as you bring up Coke, did they really USED to put Cocaine into it?

[Edx]

When I was a kid I put a tooth into a bottle of coke and I let it sit in the basement for two weeks. Tooth was still there. I guess the sugar in the coke is hazardous to a persons health for obvious reasons but it won't kill you outright.

It will however clean pennies very well! And while it might not dissolve the tooth over night, that cant be good for ya. :)

[Drudgewire]

Different question but as you bring up Coke, edid they really USED to put Cocaine into it?

Well, it wasn't processed into cocaine first and then mixed in with the sugar, but the same chemical composition from the coca leaf was used, so technically the answer is yes:

http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/cocaine.asp

And Confuseling is right. It's a great pork marinade.

[ElMondoHummus]

Concentrated orange juice is pretty damned corrosive too, same with lemonade. In fact lots of stuff we like to eat/drink are corrosive. However we usually just drink coke and don't smear the concentrated syrup all over our bodies and let it stay there.

Speak for yourse... uh, I mean, Of course we don't! :)

[Edx]

Well, it wasn't processed into cocaine first and then mixed in with the sugar, but the same chemical composition from the coca leaf was used, so technically the answer is yes:

http://www.snopes.com/cokelore/cocaine.asp

Ahh well thats interesting thanks. Of course the rumour goes on to say that they used it to get people hooked on Coke, which I guess isnt exactly correct. ;)

And Confuseling is right. It's a great pork marinade.

Its interesting you should say this as I havent tried it but I heard someone say they used diet coke to cook with some chicken and said it was very nice. Im a bit dubious about how good it will taste but i would like to try it. :)

[Whiplash]

If you put that much Coke syrup in a water supply it could change the pH considerably, not to speak of loading it with dissolved carbohydrates. That probably won't harm the bears, but the fish who have to "breathe" the stuff will likely belly up in considerable numbers until the concentration goes far down. That may not be morally significant to you, but let's try a little analytics instead of fantasy, huh?

Yikes man, I was joking.

Yes, it would be a terrible ecological disaster. I was trying (apparently unsuccessfully) to be humorous. Coke loves commercials with Polar bears drinking the stuff.. I was just drawing it out further. A big Coke party in the wildnerness.

My apologies.

[Elizabeth I]

Ahh well thats interesting thanks. Of course the rumour goes on to say that they used it to get people hooked on Coke, which I guess isnt exactly correct. ;)

I understand, however, that back in the real "Coca-cola" days it was marketed as a "nerve tonic."

[dudalb]

Yikes man, I was joking.

Yes, it would be a terrible ecological disaster. I was trying (apparently unsuccessfully) to be humorous. Coke loves commercials with Polar bears drinking the stuff.. I was just drawing it out further. A big Coke party in the wildnerness.

My apologies.

Oddly enough our cat likes Coca Cola.

[Whiplash]

Oddly enough our cat likes Coca Cola.

A cat with some good taste. ;)

[Miss_Kitt]

Classic Coke = Good.
Fountain Coke with cherry syrup added = Major Good
Caffeine-free Diet Coke = Half-cheeked substitute that works with weight-control plan and irritable bowel sensitive to caffeine.

I'd love to be able to get hooked on the stuff, but I can only manage one of those dinky 8-oz cans about every week or 10 days. (sigh)

Don't forget that you need Diet Coke to do the Mentos fountain number (and, yes, I have done it and it does work). And it's big piles of fun! It will also make your name with the neighborhood kids, especially if you buy 2-liter bottles on the coupon sale and let a bunch of them try it...

Regards, MK

[Travis]

I always thought the tooth dissolved over night bit was rather strange. I mean what was the point of the myth? Because, I don't know about you all, but my method of drinking Coke (well diet-coke) does not involve keeping the liquid coddled in my mouth for eight hours.

[Whiplash]

I always thought the tooth dissolved over night bit was rather strange. I mean what was the point of the myth? Because, I don't know about you all, but my method of drinking Coke (well diet-coke) does not involve keeping the liquid coddled in my mouth for eight hours.

I always thought it was meant to say that, since it disolves a tooth over night, when you drink it for years and years, you get the same effect but over time. That it's passing over and around your teeth is slowly eating away at them. Or something like that.

[Caustic Logic]

Huh. I've never seen a tanker truck filled with corrosive cola. Milk goes in tankers, but cola comes in boxes to most places, with heavy plastic bags inside and little spouts. The boxes will usually be delivered with other stuff, like napkins and stuff. I guess there may be tankers between the brewing and bag/boxing facilities. Not sure if Coke does that itself or other companies package it. It may be shipped thusly across the parking lot or the country. It's not reactive that I know of, or flammable, or corrosive in the normal sense if it spills. It might burn your skin if you get a spot on there and leave it for a week. Mostly the safety problem would be stickiness.

So I should think this whole thing is bogus, and perhaps cooked up by coca-Cola inc. to keep themselves in people's minds. Dang, you know i could go for an ice-cold...

Buck and Opie's root beer.

[Caustic Logic]

Ahh well thats interesting thanks. Of course the rumour goes on to say that they used it to get people hooked on Coke, which I guess isnt exactly correct. ;)

That's absurd! Next thing you'll be implying is that tobacco companies manipulate nicotine levels to get people hooked on their product. It's incidental, of course, people come back for the refreshing cool taste.

Its interesting you should say this as I havent tried it but I heard someone say they used diet coke to cook with some chicken and said it was very nice. Im a bit dubious about how good it will taste but i would like to try it. :)

Probably okay, but better with your own ingredients - water (cabonated if that matters?), real sugar, corn syrup, or honey, citric acid, kola nut, or equivalent (what is an equivalent?), etc. Oh, and of course coca leaf stewed in there. Mmmm home cookin!

[Beerina]

When I was a kid I put a tooth into a bottle of coke and I let it sit in the basement for two weeks. Tooth was still there. I guess the sugar in the coke is hazardous to a persons health for obvious reasons but it won't kill you outright.

Of course, that presumes the sugar is bad because of it's direct chemical effect on teeth. In fact, sugar feeds the explosion of bacteria, which themselves release chemicals that degrade teeth. Hence a tooth at the bottom of a bottle of Coke would not degenerate because there wouldn't be much, if any, bacterial growth going on down there.

[Loss Leader]

This doesn't help bunk or debunk the myth directly, but having a "corrosive materials" sign on one's truck makes perfect sense to a lawyer - even if the stuff inside isn't a corrosive material.

Basically, one can avoid being found negligent by giving adequate warning. If someone did mess with a truck and that person was hurt, Coke could lessen any claim against it by showing that they had clearly warned people beforehand to stay away from their truck.

So, Coke might just be following the advice of over-cautious counsel and labeling their material as dangerous as a precaution.

But I don't think the rumor is true in any case.

[Spud1k]

Not sure how it works in the states, but in the UK there are very specific rules and regulations about what warning signs get put on what chemicals and the companies moving them around get no say in the matter. Can't say I've ever seen a Coca Cola lorry with one of those signs on...

[Arus808]

I believe the "myth" was started by moms and dentists to get their children to BRUSH Their teeth.

[Travis]

I believe the "myth" was started by moms and dentists to get their children to BRUSH Their teeth.

But brushing your teeth is just a scam by Colgate.



Dang, my teeth hurt again....why does this keep happening? Guess I'd better go gargle some Mountain Dew.

[fuelair]

Huh. I've never seen a tanker truck filled with corrosive cola. Milk goes in tankers, but cola comes in boxes to most places, with heavy plastic bags inside and little spouts. The boxes will usually be delivered with other stuff, like napkins and stuff. I guess there may be tankers between the brewing and bag/boxing facilities. Not sure if Coke does that itself or other companies package it. It may be shipped thusly across the parking lot or the country. It's not reactive that I know of, or flammable, or corrosive in the normal sense if it spills. It might burn your skin if you get a spot on there and leave it for a week. Mostly the safety problem would be stickiness.

So I should think this whole thing is bogus, and perhaps cooked up by coca-Cola inc. to keep themselves in people's minds. Dang, you know i could go for an ice-cold...

Buck and Opie's root beer.The box/plastic liner is not that old - I 'spects that for a long time it was transported in large glass containers and later waxed paperboard ones. The phosphoric acid concentration is not sufficient to burn any normal skin AND in the concentrate there is no way for it to functionally dissociate anyway.

[Spud1k]

I believe the "myth" was started by moms and dentists to get their children to BRUSH Their teeth.

Didn't work on me. I didn't brush either my mum's or my dentist's teeth once. :D

[David Wong]

This is a conspiracy theory? Huh?

Can we please this back to science? There is no conspiracy here. It's about what constitutes a corrosive material for transport.

[shadron]

I always thought it was meant to say that, since it disolves a tooth over night, when you drink it for years and years, you get the same effect but over time. That it's passing over and around your teeth is slowly eating away at them. Or something like that.

The usual problem with Coke and teeth is that the bacteria growing around the teeth absorb the sugar and emit acids (more locally concentrated than the phosphoric and carbonic acids in Coke) which do etch he teeth, especially below the gum lines. The sugars are ultimately broken down and diluted by saliva enzymes, but not for some time period (I've heard about an hour?) after drinking.

Sorry about the fish thing, Whiplash. I'm probably getting too old to recognize a joke when it bites me anymore.

[Whiplash]

Sorry about the fish thing, Whiplash. I'm probably getting too old to recognize a joke when it bites me anymore.


No problem at all, thanks!