Middle East Rumors Rumor: Boycotting Coca-Cola makes a statement against America

and American (foreign) policies

Our Response: The Coca-Cola Company and our products are often regarded as
American. But the fact is that The Coca-Cola Company is a truly international company,
operating worldwide in more than 200 countries. The Coca-Cola business in each country
is a local business. Coca-Cola beverages are produced, sold and distributed by authorized
local bottling partners, who own and operate bottling plants and sales/distribution centers,
employing one million local citizens - 90% outside the United States, and nearly all of
them citizens of other countries.
For example, in the Palestinian Authority, The National Beverage Company, our
Company's authorized local bottling partner, is an independent, privately held company,
managed by local Palestinian businesspeople, who operate a Coca-Cola bottling facility
located in Ramallah and distribution centers in Gaza, Hebron and Nablus. The National
Beverage Company employs 200 local people and generates employment for hundreds of
others in related industries. Throughout the Middle East we operate as a local business,
run by local people and employing more than 20,000 local people, with local
shareowners.
The Coca-Cola business is one of the most diverse organizations in the world, operating
across a wide spectrum of economic, political and religious environments. As a business,
Coca-Cola has neither the mandate to support nor an interest in supporting individual
countries, governments or political or religious causes.
As everybody else, we are deeply touched by the human side of the situation in the
Middle East. Given the local nature of our business, we believe that calls for boycotts of
our products are not the appropriate way to further any causes, as they primarily hurt the
local economy, local businesses and local citizens. Spreading such allegations is an
attempt to exploit a delicate situation in the Middle East.

Middle East Rumors Rumor: The Coca-Cola Company is a Jewish company. (Variations
of this rumor suggest that the Company is affiliated with the Mormon religion.)
Our Response: No. The Coca-Cola Company is not affiliated with any specific religion
or ethnic group. We also do not support or oppose governments, political or religious
causes. The Coca-Cola Company is a publicly listed company, with shareowners of
different religions and ethnic groups all over the world. Anyone can buy Coca-Cola
shares through their financial institution.
We believe the origins of this rumor date back to 1967, when the Arab League
pronounced a boycott against companies for conducting business in Israel, following the

tensions in the Middle East. The Coca-Cola Company and its bottling partners were
present in many Arab and Muslim countries before Coca-Cola was introduced in Israel,
and came back to the Arab countries as soon as the boycott was lifted.
Spreading such allegations is an attempt to exploit a delicate situation in the Middle East,
and to falsely suggest that the Coca-Cola business takes sides. Learn more about our
community involvement.

Middle East Rumors Rumor: Warning not to buy Coca-Cola due to possible
contamination by terrorists
This rumor claims that a major news network and/or newspaper have put out an alert that
Coca-Cola factories have been infiltrated by terrorists and that traces of poison have been
found in cans of Coca-Cola. It is very similar to the "grateful stranger rewarding a helpful
citizen with a warning about impending attack" rumor.
Several variations of the "grateful stranger" rumor have existed over the years. The
people involved and details of the rumor vary, depending upon the political climate of the
day, but they usually involve one person rewarding another with a tip or advice to avoid
danger in response to an act of kindness. One version of the rumor surrounds a "tip" not
to buy or consume Coca-Cola, implying an impending planned contamination.
Our Response: These rumors are absolutely false and are causing needless worry. The
Coca-Cola Company has an uncompromising commitment to product safety, and our
products are produced and distributed through secure facilities. We use a number of
processes to assure the safety and quality of the water and ingredients used to make our
beverages. To ensure the effectiveness of our safeguards, we do not discuss the details of
these processes.
We always take reports of this nature seriously. You should know that investigations t