Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Daily Debunker

Cokelore. More than a century after the creation of Coca-Cola (the first Coke was consumed in 1886), we're still as much in love with this most famous of soft drinks as our great-grandparents were. Coca-Cola is one of the most successful companies the world has ever known.

Nothing can grow to such prominence in the life of a culture without having rumors and tall tales told about it. So it is with Coca-Cola, a brand and product that has inspired so many legends that folklorists created a special category for them: Cokelore.

Bite the wax tadpole. The story goes that when Coca-Cola first began selling their product in China in 1928, they transliterated its name into a Chinese phrase meaning "bite the wax tadpole." (Mixture)

The pause that refreshes. Have you ever wondered about the "coca" part of Coca-Cola's name? It has long been rumored that the product once contained cocaine? (Mixture)

Worm extractor. Does Coca-Cola coax worms out of pork? Online videos show people pouring Coke onto slices of raw pork to extract any trichinosis larvae that may be in the meat. (False)

Koka Kola Klassic. Artwork from an online protest asking Coca-Cola not to sponsor the 2016 Republican National Convention led some to believe that the company actually sold a "KKK" bottle. (False)

Twinkle in his eye. Did Coca-Cola marketers invent the modern image of Santa Claus as a jolly large fellow in a red-and-white suit? (False)

Rumor Rundown

Bad butter. Is Anchor Butter contaminated with HIV? An old, recurring rumor about a worker adding HIV-infected blood to foods or beverages takes aim -- again -- at a popular brand of butter. (False)

Laminated veggies. Does a "plastic" layer cover romaine lettuce? A viral video purporting to show a woman peeling plastic off lettuce leaves is misleading. (False)

Old story. A prayer request about a 22-month-old child who shot himself in the heart with a nail gun is several years old. (Outdated)

In the News

Trump Willing to Shut Down Government Over Border Security. President Donald Trump said he'd be willing to shut down the government if Democrats refuse to vote for his immigration proposals, including building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Read more  


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