https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey 1999 Coca-Cola Mass Hysteria by Shea Murray and Kelsey Calvert en-us 2016-10-19 19:14:26 UTC 2025-10-18 10:36:21 UTC hello@padlet.com sheamurray69 https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey/wish/131908278 In July of 1999, Belgium, a country in Europe, had what was called "The Coca Cola Scare." This  incident spread to many countries from Belgium to Japan, India, and many more.  It all began when four men near Antwerp complained of becoming ill after consuming Coca-Cola. A total of $200 million of profit was lost and 15 million bottles and cans were recalled due to the ban.]]> 2016-10-19 19:23:59 UTC https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey/wish/131908278 sheamurray69 https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey/wish/131908638 It all started four weeks before the CCC told the public about becoming ill because of their products. Four men in a bar near Antwerp, a town in Belgium, complained of becoming ill after drinking their Coca-Cola. Then on June 8, more than 30 teenagers in the town of Bornem got hospitalized due to headaches, dizziness, and stomach aches. This was the first incident that was released to the public. Soon after it was released to the public, many cases were released and everyone was soon becoming ill after consuming Coca-Cola. It spread to many countries including India, France, Netherlands and more. This scare spread worldwide.]]> 2016-10-19 19:25:12 UTC https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey/wish/131908638 sheamurray69 https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey/wish/131908777 There were many consequences due to this scare. The Coca-Cola Company, the CCC, paid the price. The CCC lost over $200 million in profit. The CCC also had to withdraw all of its products and destroy them. On 19 June 1999,  a ban was also placed on the CCC  banning the sale of Coca-Cola products and said that the Belgian Health Ministry had to withdraw all of its products from stores. The ban was lifted on 22 June 1999.]]> 2016-10-19 19:25:37 UTC https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey/wish/131908777 sheamurray69 https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey/wish/131908877 On June 22, 1999 the CCC lifted the ban. In order for the ban to be completely lifted, all existing products had to be destroyed and start new.  However, nine months after the first incident, a psychiatric scientist, Isy Pelc, discovered that the cause of the illness was due to a psychosomatic reaction caused by the peculiar odors. The cause of this mass hysteria was due to a psychological problem; nothing physically wrong with the Coca-Cola products. The CCC was not to blame for this incident.]]> 2016-10-19 19:26:00 UTC https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey/wish/131908877 sheamurray69 https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey/wish/131908884 There were many theories on why civilians were getting ill after consuming Coca-Cola. Many theories consisted of people saying how the soda had a very irregular taste and a peculiar odor. Due to the taste and odor, people believed something was chemically wrong with the Coca-Cola. About 100 consumers soon became ill after reporting that the soda had an odd smell and taste. Another theory was that the company said that the "off-quality" carbon dioxide was the cause of the odd taste and odor which was making people sick. Many of the symptoms from the soda included having headaches, stomach aches, shivering, nausea, and severe cases led to the hospital. Later on, a scientist from the Brugmann Hospital in Belgium, Isy Pelc, proved that there was nothing chemically wrong with the Coca-Cola.]]> 2016-10-19 19:26:02 UTC https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey/wish/131908884 sheamurray69 https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey/wish/131908950 Johnson, Victoria and Spero C. Peppas. "Crisis management in Belgium: the case of Coca-Cola." Emerald Register Insight. 2003. Web. 6 October, 2016.]]> 2016-10-19 19:26:20 UTC https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey/wish/131908950 sheamurray69 https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey/wish/131909063 This Coca-Cola Disaster resembled the Salem Witch Trials in many ways. One way is that they both caused a worldwide mass hysteria. It began in Salem when girls were pretending to be witches then spread to the whole town being accused of witches. It resembles the Coca-Cola scare by someone saying they became ill after consuming Coca-Cola. It then spread to the town complaining about becoming ill which then spread to many countries.]]> 2016-10-19 19:26:40 UTC https://padlet.com/sheamurray69/kelsey/wish/131909063