The Coca-Cola Company: Difference between revisions

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{{CompanyCargo

{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Multiple sections need to either be completed or simply written. These are clearly labeled within the article.}}{{CompanyCargo

|Founded=1892-01-29

|Industry=Beverage

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|Website=https://www.coca-colacompany.com/

|Description=The Coca-Cola company is a beverage company known for its consolidation of roughly 1/3 of the beverage market, and corporate lobbying/bribery.

}}

}}'''The Coca-Cola Company''' is an American multinational corporation founded in 1892. It is most commonly known for the product that is the namesake of the company "Coca-Cola", however it sells other beverages underneath various brands such as Sprite, Barq's, and Powerade. Since its founding, it has acquired dozens of companies and brands, consolidating roughly 44.9% of the greater beverage industry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dey |first=Maitrayee |date=Dec 8, 2025 |editor-last=Jambhale |editor-first=Rohan |title=Coca-Cola Statistics By Revenue, Brand Valuation, Sales and Facts |url=https://electroiq.com/stats/coca-cola-statistics/ |archive-url= |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |website=ElectroIQ}}</ref>

==Consumer-impact summary==

==Consumer-impact summary==

~~==Incidents==~~

* '''User Freedom''':

~~{{Ph-C~~-~~Inc}}~~

* '''User Privacy''':

* '''Business Model''': Primarily beverage sales

* '''Market Control''': Commands the largest portion of the beverage industry, shared with [[PepsiCo]] and [[Keurig-Dr. Pepper]].

==Incidents==

This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===~~Example incident one~~ (''date~~'')~~===

===Skewing health research data===

Until 2021, Coca-Cola Co. partially was funding the pro-industry advocacy group [[International Life Sciences Institute]] (ILSI),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pulley |first1=Brett |date=13 January 2021 |title=Coca-Cola Severs Longtime Ties With Pro-Sugar Group |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-13/coca-cola-severs-longtime-ties-with-pro-sugar-industry-group |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |publisher=Bloomberg}}</ref> which was founded in 1978 by a former Coca-Cola Co. executive, alongside a rich history of employing high-level Coca-Cola Co. employees.<ref name="nytimes-2019">{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Andrew |date=16 September 2019 |title=A Shadowy Industry Group Shapes Food Policy Around the World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/health/ilsi-food-policy-india-brazil-china.html |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times}}</ref> Most notably, the organization has taken similar positions as Coca-Cola Co.'s own research and messaging when it comes to how obesity should be addressed; not by dietary changes, but solely physical activity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Anahad |date=9 August 2015 |title=Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets |url=https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets/ |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times}}</ref><!-- More to cover, check the 2nd paragraph!

~~Short summary of~~ the ~~incident (could~~ be ~~the same as the summary preceding the article)~~.

https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_Coca-Cola&wvprov=sticky-header#Marketing_issues

===~~Example incident two (''~~date~~'')=~~==

...

==~~Products~~==

Also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coca-Cola_Company#Front_groups -->

===Vitamin Water Lawsuit (Jan 2009)===

In January 2009, the US consumer group the [[Center for Science in the Public Interest]] filed a class-action lawsuit against Coca-Cola.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 15, 2009 |title=Coke Sued for Fraudulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting "VitaminWater" |url=http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728104633/http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |publisher=Center for Science in the Public Interest}}</ref> The lawsuit was in regard to claims made, along with the company's flavors, of [[wikipedia:Vitamin_Water|Vitamin Water]]. Claims say that the 33 grams of sugar are more harmful than the vitamins and other additives are helpful. Coca-Cola insists the suit is "ridiculous."<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement on The glacéau vitaminwater Lawsuit |url=http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116234344/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-date=2013-01-16 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=The Coca-Cola Company}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=15 January 2009 |title=Coca-Cola sued over VitaminWater claims |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28675966 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=NBC News}}</ref>

=== Mislabeling Minute Maid products (2014) ===

In the case POM Wonderful LLC v. Coca-Cola Co., POM Wonderful unsuccessfully argued that Minute Maid was mislabeling its pomegranate and blueberry juices due to the products containing 99.4% apple/grape juices.

=== Water usage ===

=== Pollution  ===

=== Anti-competitive practices  ===

==Products==

=== Beverages ===

* Coca-Cola

* Sprite

* Minute Maid

* Barq's

* Powerade

=== Machinery ===

* Coke Freestyle Machine

* BreakMate <!-- Needs research, but I have a feeling that this have some dubious R2R stuff involved since its discontinuation:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BreakMate -->

==See also==

~~{{Ph~~-~~C-SA}}~~

=== Beverage Companies ===

* [[PepsiCo]]

* [[Keurig-Dr. Pepper]]

==References==

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-{{CompanyCargo
+{{Incomplete|Issue 1=Multiple sections need to either be completed or simply written. These are clearly labeled within the article.}}{{CompanyCargo
 |Founded=1892-01-29
 |Industry=Beverage
@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 |Website=https://www.coca-colacompany.com/
 |Description=The Coca-Cola company is a beverage company known for its consolidation of roughly 1/3 of the beverage market, and corporate lobbying/bribery.
-}}
+}}'''The Coca-Cola Company''' is an American multinational corporation founded in 1892. It is most commonly known for the product that is the namesake of the company "Coca-Cola", however it sells other beverages underneath various brands such as Sprite, Barq's, and Powerade. Since its founding, it has acquired dozens of companies and brands, consolidating roughly 44.9% of the greater beverage industry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dey |first=Maitrayee |date=Dec 8, 2025 |editor-last=Jambhale |editor-first=Rohan |title=Coca-Cola Statistics By Revenue, Brand Valuation, Sales and Facts |url=https://electroiq.com/stats/coca-cola-statistics/ |archive-url= |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |website=ElectroIQ}}</ref><!-- IA is buggy, need someone else to go through and add the archives -->
-{{Ph-C-Int}}
-==Consumer-impact summary==
+==Consumer-impact summary<!-- Needs further research for the freedom and privacy sections -->==
-{{Ph-C-CIS}}
+{{Incomplete section}}
-==Incidents==
+* '''User Freedom''':
-{{Ph-C-Inc}}
+* '''User Privacy''':
+* '''Business Model''': Primarily beverage sales
+* '''Market Control''': Commands the largest portion of the beverage industry, shared with [[PepsiCo]] and [[Keurig-Dr. Pepper]].
+==Incidents<!-- Wikipedia has a great baseline to reference, we can then add to this pile with further research later as well.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Coca-Cola --><!-- Topics unsure as to inclusion: Refusal to label in Catalan, 20+ years of lawsuits from Catalonians -->==
 This is a list of all consumer-protection incidents this company is involved in. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{FULLPAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
-===Example incident one (''date'')===
+===Skewing health research data===
-{{Main|link to the main CR Wiki article}}
+Until 2021, Coca-Cola Co. partially was funding the pro-industry advocacy group [[International Life Sciences Institute]] (ILSI),<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pulley |first1=Brett |date=13 January 2021 |title=Coca-Cola Severs Longtime Ties With Pro-Sugar Group |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-13/coca-cola-severs-longtime-ties-with-pro-sugar-industry-group |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |publisher=Bloomberg}}</ref> which was founded in 1978 by a former Coca-Cola Co. executive, alongside a rich history of employing high-level Coca-Cola Co. employees.<ref name="nytimes-2019">{{cite news |last1=Jacobs |first1=Andrew |date=16 September 2019 |title=A Shadowy Industry Group Shapes Food Policy Around the World |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/16/health/ilsi-food-policy-india-brazil-china.html |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times}}</ref> Most notably, the organization has taken similar positions as Coca-Cola Co.'s own research and messaging when it comes to how obesity should be addressed; not by dietary changes, but solely physical activity.<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Connor |first1=Anahad |date=9 August 2015 |title=Coca-Cola Funds Scientists Who Shift Blame for Obesity Away From Bad Diets |url=https://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets/ |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=New York Times}}</ref><!-- More to cover, check the 2nd paragraph!
-Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).
+https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_Coca-Cola&wvprov=sticky-header#Marketing_issues
-===Example incident two (''date'')===
-...
-==Products==
+Also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coca-Cola_Company#Front_groups -->
-{{Ph-C-P}}
+===Vitamin Water Lawsuit (Jan 2009)<!-- 1:1 copy/paste from Wikipedia, needs cleaning! -->===
+In January 2009, the US consumer group the [[Center for Science in the Public Interest]] filed a class-action lawsuit against Coca-Cola.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 15, 2009 |title=Coke Sued for Fraudulent Claims on Obesity-Promoting "VitaminWater" |url=http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120728104633/http://www.cspinet.org/new/200901151.html |archive-date=July 28, 2012 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |publisher=Center for Science in the Public Interest}}</ref> The lawsuit was in regard to claims made, along with the company's flavors, of [[wikipedia:Vitamin_Water|Vitamin Water]]. Claims say that the 33&nbsp;grams of sugar are more harmful than the vitamins and other additives are helpful. Coca-Cola insists the suit is "ridiculous."<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement on The glacéau vitaminwater Lawsuit |url=http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130116234344/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/media-center/company-statements/glaceau-vitaminwater-lawsuit |archive-date=2013-01-16 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=The Coca-Cola Company}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=15 January 2009 |title=Coca-Cola sued over VitaminWater claims |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28675966 |access-date=Jan 20, 2026 |work=NBC News}}</ref>
+=== Mislabeling Minute Maid products (2014)<!-- Needs proper research, reference  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/POM_Wonderful_LLC_v._Coca-Cola_Co. For details --> ===
+In the case POM Wonderful LLC v. Coca-Cola Co., POM Wonderful unsuccessfully argued that Minute Maid was mislabeling its pomegranate and blueberry juices due to the products containing 99.4% apple/grape juices.
+=== Water usage<!-- Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_Coca-Cola&wvprov=sticky-header#Water_use --> ===
+{{Incomplete section}}
+=== Pollution <!-- Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_Coca-Cola&wvprov=sticky-header#Packaging | https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_Coca-Cola&wvprov=sticky-header#Air_pollution | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coca-Cola_Company#Plastic_production_and_waste  Pollution is a key topic considering their activities go beyond just harming those who consume their products --> ===
+{{Incomplete section}}
+=== Anti-competitive practices <!-- Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Criticism_of_Coca-Cola&wvprov=sticky-header#Anti-competitive_practices --> ===
+{{Incomplete section}}
+==Products<!-- Coke owns A LOT of brands. Someone else will need to flip through and only add the rest of the relevant brands to here. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Coca-Cola_brands  Also! Unless there is a directly relevant incident with a specific product, don't list sub-products; e.g. Sprite Cranberry, Oreo Coke, etc. -->==
+=== Beverages ===
+* Coca-Cola
+* Sprite
+* Minute Maid
+* Barq's
+* Powerade
+=== Machinery ===
+* Coke Freestyle Machine <!-- I have a feeling this one might have some privacy issues considering you can scan a QR code on some machines to dispense your soda... -->
+* BreakMate <!-- Needs research, but I have a feeling that this have some dubious R2R stuff involved since its discontinuation:
+https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BreakMate -->
 ==See also==
-{{Ph-C-SA}}
+=== Beverage Companies ===
+* [[PepsiCo]]
+* [[Keurig-Dr. Pepper]]
 ==References==