Did Coca-Cola Use to Contain Cocaine? Here’s The Truth About This Rumor, Once and For All!

The idea that Coca-Cola once had cocaine has fascinated many people for years. It's true that the original recipe included coca leaf extract, but people often misunderstand how strong it was and why it was used.

Beginnings of Coca-Cola's Recipe

The Coca-Cola formula was created in 1886 by a pharmacist named Dr. John Stith Pemberton in Atlanta. This early version included both coca leaf and kola nut extracts. The coca leaf, which can be processed into cocaine, was used because it provided energy and stimulation. At that time, cocaine was legal and commonly used in medicines. Pemberton promoted Coca-Cola as a "brain tonic" that could help people with headaches and tiredness.

Cocaine in Early Coca-Cola

Historical records indicate that the original Coca-Cola contained approximately 9 milligrams of cocaine per glass. To compare, a normal recreational dose of cocaine is about 50–75 milligrams. So, the cocaine in Coca-Cola was quite minimal and probably did not have significant effects.

Changing Perspectives on Cocaine

By the early 1900s, people's views on cocaine were shifting, and the drug was being seen more negatively. In 1904, due to bad publicity and regulatory pressures, Coca-Cola decided to remove most of the cocaine from the coca leaves. By 1929, they had figured out a way to eliminate all traces of cocaine from their product.

Coca-Cola Today

Nowadays, Coca-Cola does not contain any cocaine. The company still uses coca leaf extract to add flavor, but all the cocaine is removed during processing. They import the coca leaves from Peru and Bolivia, and a single licensed company in the United States handles their processing.