Whats In This Stuff Research And Write About Whats In Coca-Cola - 825 Words

What's In This Stuff: Research And Write About What's In Coca-Cola? (Essay Sample) Content: NameCourseInstitutionWhats in Coca-Cola?IntroductionThe Coca-Cola Company has a plethora of products that have withstood the test of time as one of the worlds most consumed goods. The company manufactures several brands of soft drinks sold under the Coca-Cola Trademark. Although many people love drinking the Coca-Cola products, very little is known about their recipes. The company owners have kept the formula as a top secret known to only a few unidentified employees. The reason behind maintaining a secrecy of the recipe is to protect the companys intellectual property. However, through laboratory analysis, there are some ingredients already confirmed in the Coca-Cola drinks. This paper tries to give a fact sheet about the Coca-Cola ingredients CITATION Pal13 \l 2057 (Palermo, 2013). 1 CaffeineWhat is Caffeine?Caffeine is a stimulant of the CNS (Central Nervous System) under the category of methylxanthine. The caffeine is extracted from the plants and is contained in most non-diet Coca-Cola products. The following diagram indicates the chemical structure of the compound.Figure 1: Chemical structure of CaffeineSince caffeine is highly soluble in water, it and odorless, it is suitably used in the soft drinks. However, it has a bitter taste, hence it is used in small concentrations. Moreover, sugar and other flavors are used to lower the bitterness of caffeine.Why it is used in the productThe metabolism of caffeine occurs in the liver where it is converted to three products; paraxanthine, theobromine, and theophylline. The half-life of caffeine is approximately 5-6 hours. The substance is used in the drinks to bring about the Alertness as well as awareness. The compound blocks the receptors of adenosine in the blood hence lowering the brain signals that alert the body to sleep or slow down its activities. Moreover, caffeine brings about positivity in the mind by increasing the levels of dopamine. Therefore, the Coca-Cola drinks are associated with motivation as well as productivity (Caffeine Informer, 2016).Other Interesting fun facts/ safety concernsIf one is used to taking a coke when it gets hot, it becomes hard to do without it. Therefore, the Coca-Cola drinks have a sense of addiction attributable to the caffeine ingredient. Caffeine also increases the blood pressure. The Coca-Cola drinks are not recommended for people with hypertension because the caffeine in them increases the release of the stress hormones (Caffeine Informer, 2016). 2 Merchandise 7XWhat merchandise 7X? Why it is used in the productMerchandise 7X is a combination of synthetic flavors that have been secretly used to give the Coca-Cola products the perfect taste. Merchandise 7X has been confirmed as a secret ingredient behind the outstanding taste of Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola Company faces a stiff competition from its biggest rival Pepsi. The company struggles to maintain at the top of the market by keeping secrets of the formula. However, due to pressu re especially from the FDA, the Coca-Cola Company has been forced to disclose some of the active ingredients in its syrup (Palermo, 2013).Other Interesting fun facts/ safety concernsMerchandise 7X is believed to be carcinogenic. For this reason, several states are considering the proposals to ban the Coca-Cola products. For this reason, the Coca-Cola executives are faced with a challenge of reformulating the recipe. The Coca-Cola ingredients have been changing from time to time due to legal issues surrounding the formula. Therefore, it is necessary to limit the consumption of the drinks to avoid chances of interacting with harmful ingredients. 3 Sodium BenzoateWhat is Sodium Benzoate?Sodium benzoate is an organic compound with the formula; C7H5O2Na. It is either crystalline or in a liquid state. The chemical is odorless and has an astringent-sweet taste. It has a high boiling point of between 450-475oC. The figure below indicates its chemical structure.Figure 2: Chemical Structu re of Sodium BenzoateWhy it is used in the productSodium Benzoate is used in the Coca-Cola products as a preservative. The Coca-Cola products contain several ingredients such as sugars that are susceptible to destruction by the microorganisms. The preservative is necessary to maintain the taste as well as the safety of the products.Other Interesting fun facts/ safety concernsHowever, sodium ben...