The Tale of Two Cokes
Corn, the Other Sweetener
The tale of two cokes begins with a package with a return address from “APO, AE.” It is not really a city or state that you can find on a map, but if you have ever been stationed overseas you know that this is your catch-all address. When Chaya and I lived in Germany we had such an address, and when I was sent off to war that same address followed with me. For the record, Pantry Paratus is committed to free shipping to APO’s because when I was in the sandbox the mighty Amazon would not ship to an APO (however they would ship to a federal prison). The package contained some various things for the kids as well as a can of foreign Coca-Cola®. I have no idea if that is legal or not, so let’s just keep that between us.
Our friend knew that our oldest son, Scooter, exhibits a corn allergy so the rare treat of a soda pop with say Mom’s homemade pizza and three episodes of the Muppets on DVD on a rainy afternoon is a big treat indeed around our house. When we used to shop strictly by “price per unit” we felt sick—a lot. Now, Chaya the venerable coupon warrior, is extremely label savvy. She can grocery shop in half the time, because it the label is too long or unpronounceable, then no matter how cheap the item is it will never see our kitchen. As it turns out, the things that are not offered on sale in conjunction with coupons are the things we usually buy. Hmmmmmmm
So what makes this can of Coke different from any other you come across in the local vending machine? Well, the first thing is that it is only in English on one side, since the can was produced in Saudi Arabia and the liquid was “bottled” in Bahrain the can is bilingual, Arabic and English.
But even more noteworthy is the fact that the ingredients label leaves off that vile bastard-child of the Farm Bill, high fructose corn syrup. In the rest of the world, soft drinks are typically bottled with real sugar. As it turns out, the rest of the world is dumping GMO. Sorry Monsanto. Without the Farm Bill and a prolific good ol’ boy network (revolving door of regulators who used to be in industry regulating the industry populated by former regulators) it becomes impossible to convince a farmer in Thailand or Poland to put his family farm in hock, strip mine his soil, sell the precious corn to the grain elevator at a loss and then wait for the subsidy check. For the record, Ethanol is a really bad idea.
Okay, so the fact that I cannot find one boat owner or small engine repairman who likes ethanol may be anecdotal. But the price that the commodity of corn exacts from America’s agriculture capacity, food system and national economy is certainly not trivial. Quite the contrary, corn is not cheap. As I write this, corn is trading at 430.25 cents per bushel (or $4.30 in real people speak). Add in the cost of petroleum to till, plant, chemically treat with pesticides, harvest, transport, and process that corn and your real cost (not counting toxicity) is likely a lot higher before subsidies work their black magic. But starch is big business and is extremely valuable in both nature and on the Chicago Board of Trade. It is so valuable that I suspect that it is far too costly in real money to put into soft drinks and the reason why overseas bottlers still use real sugar.
American Coke:
Foreign Coke:
This quintessential American product may not be so American anymore, after all. Dr. John Pemberton (the sweet treat’s inventor) used sugar in his original formula. That taste, the original formula, the way it is still made overseas, is far better than the synthetic flavor Americans know today.
Feel free to post your comments.
Wilson
Pro Deo et Patria
Proviso:
Nothing in this blog constitutes medical advice. You should consult your own physician before making any dietary changes. Statements in this blog may or may not be congruent with current USDA or FDA guidance.
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