American Eats

Soda (1x1)

Air date: Jun 29, 2006

Did you know that...Coca-Cola is the second most universally recognized word on the planet after "OK"? Each year, Americans drink enough carbonated beverages to fill more than 100,000 Olympic-sized pools. Sugar, water, carbon dioxide--these simple ingredients are the foundation for a $25-billion a year industry. Modern, state-of-the-art bottling plants supply Americans with 15-billion gallons of soda every year, in every variety of flavor, no calorie or low-calorie, caffeinated or caffeine-free, in a 12-ounce can or half-gallon bottle, all packaged and sold with some of the best marketing strategies ever developed. Inspired by miracle mineral waters, advanced by small town pharmacists, the story of soft drinks is the story of American ingenuity and competition, along with an insatiable thirst for profits.