Naaaahhhh. I now know that is even worse. I smile as I drink my morning single-origen, mushroom infused coffee and feeling smug I am not imbibing coffee mold or at least less likely. Then there are the people of Chiapas . . . sigh . . . I have also watched Mad Men and seen "Mexican" coke sold in Laredo, Texas - a border town....but Michigan!!! Did Mexico forget to leave out the cocaine?
A little insider note: Because of the secrecy of the Coke formula, it is OK to bug each others offices at headquarters. Some employees are accustomed to speaking in hushed tones even away from work. Employees at Coca Cola use more mainstream tranquilizers than the United States .
Is that true about the Coca Cola headquarters? I imagine it most be a hot soup of cognitive dissonance over there. I don't know about the cocaine, but Mexican coke is made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup, as God intended.
Thank you for this post. Coke is even fed to babies. Chiapas is a beautiful state and one of my favorite places ... I didn't realize the Coke-consumption was so much higher than the rest of the country.
The rate of consumption was news to me as well. I remember reading many years ago about the water use controversy, but I had no idea about the levels of consumption. And yeah, it is fed to babies, and it is even revered as a sort of medicine from the gods in some of the indigenous communities in Chiapas.
Good one, Mike, especially b/c it is so synonymous w/ Mexico. Tell me, is it true that MX coke has more sugar in the recipe? We always heard that - not so much any more - but my nephew who was a coke lover asked me to bring him a MEX coke years ago, which I did (pre TSA). Can't recall his comparison. Is there any truth to that? Great post!
I don't know if it has more sugar, but it does have different sugar. In the U.S., Coke is made with high fructose corn syrup. In Mexico, it is made with cane sugar. This is why so many people prefer Mexican Coke over U.S. Coke, and why it tends to be coveted in the States.
I remember that last episode of Mad Men and this article helps give that context that helps me more fully understand why they ended that way – fits with the theme of the dysfunction of that world. And just reading the words of the theme song has now gotten it re-stuck in my head – thank you very much! lol advertising masterpiece for sure.
And, now you want us to carry the song!? ; ) Maybe it will displace the one I got going now: "One less bell to answer. One less egg to fry. I should be happy but all I do is cry."
Yeah, Mexican Coke is a thing, since it is mixed with cane sugar in Mexico, instead of corn syrup like it is in the U.S. Thanks for the comment, David!
This is so sad, but confirms what I've suspected for a long time. When we first moved to Mexico in 1989, we didn't see a lot of fat Mexicans. Now they are everywhere, and you only have to spend 5 minutes in an Oxxo to see why. Rows and rows of junk food, and maybe one shelf where you can find an apple or a banana. Our name for the Mexican sugar epidemic is "the Oxxo diet." Interestingly, my tiny puebla has not a single Oxxo, but every mini super here may as well be a carbon copy with all the junk food they hawk. I'm kind of glad to hear there's a movement in Chiapas to get rid of Coca-Cola. Big Cola is a 500-pound gorilla that may never go away, but at least someone is trying.
Ugh, yes - the junk food revolution has a firm foothold in Mexico. Sugary foods and lack of any kind of nutrition education is an effective one-two punch in degrading the health of a population. It is sad to see, and I agree it is encouraging (at least a little bit) to see small pockets of resistance.
it was pretty shocking in Chiapas for sure, especially when we learned that they've started use coke in some Mayan ceremonies there in place of pox, a local corn liquor. There was one photographer down there I saw who had this picture of a young girl (probably ~ 5 years old) drinking a coke out of the bottle in the streets. The NAFTA diet is real!
Ugh - it is sad. And yes, it is true that some of the indigenous communities in Chiapas view soda as a sort of divine medicine. You can't pay for that kind of advertising. NAFTA did have many positive effects, but yeah - when you see someone from the U.S. bearing foodstuffs to market, run.
Yikes, that's a lot of Coca la Cola. I too have one once in while, but like you, it's pretty rare.
It's a big concern and I hope education and information can help people understand that a little is probably okay, but as a daily staple, not good for the body.
I imagine Coca-Cola itself, already having a large audience and distribution network, could launch a fierce campaign to "drink less", as I can also imagine them giving everyone in the world a pony.
Enough fantasy. Time to finish my coffee, which hopefully is not as bad as Da Coke.
Coffee is a superfood that is nothing but beneficial to the human body (or so I tell myself every morning). I'm going to be first in line for a pony. Thanks for reading, and for the comment, Victor.
I haven't had that much coca cola unless if I'm at a restaurant, even then if they have an option to drink some craft sodas than I would take it in a heartbeat over that crappy version of sugar water. It's a shame to see the increase in type 2 diabetes in the country as well. Good job to the residents of Chiapas for doing the good fight, hopefully the residents there will have clean drinking water to drink. (by the way, one of the first things that I learned about Chiapas were the Zapatistas in one of my classes.)
Buy me a diet Coke then, Mike.
Naaaahhhh. I now know that is even worse. I smile as I drink my morning single-origen, mushroom infused coffee and feeling smug I am not imbibing coffee mold or at least less likely. Then there are the people of Chiapas . . . sigh . . . I have also watched Mad Men and seen "Mexican" coke sold in Laredo, Texas - a border town....but Michigan!!! Did Mexico forget to leave out the cocaine?
A little insider note: Because of the secrecy of the Coke formula, it is OK to bug each others offices at headquarters. Some employees are accustomed to speaking in hushed tones even away from work. Employees at Coca Cola use more mainstream tranquilizers than the United States .
Is that true about the Coca Cola headquarters? I imagine it most be a hot soup of cognitive dissonance over there. I don't know about the cocaine, but Mexican coke is made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup, as God intended.
Many years ago my husband and I were invited into conversations with two people from Marketing at Coca Cola. I heard and saw a few things.
Thank you for this post. Coke is even fed to babies. Chiapas is a beautiful state and one of my favorite places ... I didn't realize the Coke-consumption was so much higher than the rest of the country.
The rate of consumption was news to me as well. I remember reading many years ago about the water use controversy, but I had no idea about the levels of consumption. And yeah, it is fed to babies, and it is even revered as a sort of medicine from the gods in some of the indigenous communities in Chiapas.
Good one, Mike, especially b/c it is so synonymous w/ Mexico. Tell me, is it true that MX coke has more sugar in the recipe? We always heard that - not so much any more - but my nephew who was a coke lover asked me to bring him a MEX coke years ago, which I did (pre TSA). Can't recall his comparison. Is there any truth to that? Great post!
I don't know if it has more sugar, but it does have different sugar. In the U.S., Coke is made with high fructose corn syrup. In Mexico, it is made with cane sugar. This is why so many people prefer Mexican Coke over U.S. Coke, and why it tends to be coveted in the States.
That’s it then. The real thing! (The sugar, I mean).
lol
I remember that last episode of Mad Men and this article helps give that context that helps me more fully understand why they ended that way – fits with the theme of the dysfunction of that world. And just reading the words of the theme song has now gotten it re-stuck in my head – thank you very much! lol advertising masterpiece for sure.
You're welcome for the earworm! And yeah, Coke and dysfunction seem to go hand-in-hand (except when I drink it 😝). Thanks for the comment, Christy!
By the way, here’s a link to the ad: https://www.google.com/search?q=coca-Cola%27s+famous+hilltop+ad&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-us&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:b7e4fbbd,vid:1VM2eLhvsSM,st:0
I had to go look it up in order to get this song out of my head!!
lol - thanks for the link. I'll add it to my playlist 😜
And, now you want us to carry the song!? ; ) Maybe it will displace the one I got going now: "One less bell to answer. One less egg to fry. I should be happy but all I do is cry."
I don't know that song - what is it, Elva?
Just how young are you? Look up The 5th Dimension - One Less Bell To Answer (Official Audio) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xy2YOL8wdBA
You will need to wash down the lyrics with a Coca con Hielo. You have been forewarned.
heading for Oxxo now
Wow! I had no idea! And yes Coke tastes better in Mexico! In fact they sell Mexican Coca cola here in Michigan!
Yeah, Mexican Coke is a thing, since it is mixed with cane sugar in Mexico, instead of corn syrup like it is in the U.S. Thanks for the comment, David!
This is so sad, but confirms what I've suspected for a long time. When we first moved to Mexico in 1989, we didn't see a lot of fat Mexicans. Now they are everywhere, and you only have to spend 5 minutes in an Oxxo to see why. Rows and rows of junk food, and maybe one shelf where you can find an apple or a banana. Our name for the Mexican sugar epidemic is "the Oxxo diet." Interestingly, my tiny puebla has not a single Oxxo, but every mini super here may as well be a carbon copy with all the junk food they hawk. I'm kind of glad to hear there's a movement in Chiapas to get rid of Coca-Cola. Big Cola is a 500-pound gorilla that may never go away, but at least someone is trying.
Ugh, yes - the junk food revolution has a firm foothold in Mexico. Sugary foods and lack of any kind of nutrition education is an effective one-two punch in degrading the health of a population. It is sad to see, and I agree it is encouraging (at least a little bit) to see small pockets of resistance.
Wow, such an interesting info here! I like drinking Coke, but I'll think a little bit more after reading this. Thanks!
Thank you, Nicole. Yes, everything in moderation (except coffee, of course 😉)
We are on the same team ☕😊
it was pretty shocking in Chiapas for sure, especially when we learned that they've started use coke in some Mayan ceremonies there in place of pox, a local corn liquor. There was one photographer down there I saw who had this picture of a young girl (probably ~ 5 years old) drinking a coke out of the bottle in the streets. The NAFTA diet is real!
Ugh - it is sad. And yes, it is true that some of the indigenous communities in Chiapas view soda as a sort of divine medicine. You can't pay for that kind of advertising. NAFTA did have many positive effects, but yeah - when you see someone from the U.S. bearing foodstuffs to market, run.
Yikes, that's a lot of Coca la Cola. I too have one once in while, but like you, it's pretty rare.
It's a big concern and I hope education and information can help people understand that a little is probably okay, but as a daily staple, not good for the body.
I imagine Coca-Cola itself, already having a large audience and distribution network, could launch a fierce campaign to "drink less", as I can also imagine them giving everyone in the world a pony.
Enough fantasy. Time to finish my coffee, which hopefully is not as bad as Da Coke.
Thanks for the article, Mike.
Coffee is a superfood that is nothing but beneficial to the human body (or so I tell myself every morning). I'm going to be first in line for a pony. Thanks for reading, and for the comment, Victor.
I haven't had that much coca cola unless if I'm at a restaurant, even then if they have an option to drink some craft sodas than I would take it in a heartbeat over that crappy version of sugar water. It's a shame to see the increase in type 2 diabetes in the country as well. Good job to the residents of Chiapas for doing the good fight, hopefully the residents there will have clean drinking water to drink. (by the way, one of the first things that I learned about Chiapas were the Zapatistas in one of my classes.)
I should do an article on the Zapatista movement some day (but it would require a lot of writing 😉). Thanks for reading and for the comment, Fahim!