I Wasn't the First Person to Find the NJ Coca-Cola Cocaine Factory

The article discusses the historical relationship between The Coca-Cola Company and the coca leaf, which is the source of cocaine. The author, Ricardo Cortés, highlights his research into this topic, revealing that Coca-Cola has imported coca leaves for its secret formula through a special arrangement with the U.S. government. He recounts his attempts to investigate this relationship, including correspondence with The Coca-Cola Company and the processing company, Maywood Chemical Works, which was later acquired by Stepan Chemical.

Cortés references Victor Wolfgang von Hagen, an explorer who in 1949 sought information about Coca-Cola's coca leaf imports for a magazine article but faced significant resistance from both the company and the Federal Bureau of Narcotics. Despite his inquiries, von Hagen's efforts to publish an article on coca were thwarted, and the topic remained largely unaddressed in public discourse.

The article also touches on the ongoing secrecy surrounding Coca-Cola's formula and its coca leaf sourcing, noting that the company maintains a selective public relations strategy. Cortés concludes by mentioning the complexities of coca's cultural significance versus its criminalization, emphasizing the disparity in how coca is treated in traditional contexts compared to its use in Coca-Cola. The narrative illustrates the challenges of uncovering corporate practices related to controversial substances.