Coca-Cola has been forced to pull an online ad commemorating the 75th anniversary of Fanta after suggesting that the era in which it was launched – Nazi Germany – was the “good old times”.
The video opened by explaining that “75 years ago, resources for our beloved Coke in Germany were scarce”, and claimed that Coca-Cola’s invention of the new drink during the war was a “fantastic idea”.
The truth is somewhat different. Fanta originated as a result of difficulties importing Coca-Cola’s gloopy syrup into Nazi Germany during World War II due to a trade embargo.
As a result, Coca-Cola Deutschland boss Max Keith decided to create a new product for the German market, using only ingredients available at the time, including whey and pomace – described as the “leftovers of leftovers”.
And although the online video clip made no mention of World War II, it did refer to the company’s inability to acquire the products needed to make Coca-Cola in Germany at the time.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the campaign sparked uproar and was pulled within hours. A Coca-Cola spokeswoman apologised for any offence caused by the advertisement and said that it was supposed to “evoke positive childhood memories”.
She added: “Fanta was invented in Germany during the Second World War but the 75-year-old brand had no association with Hitler or the Nazi Party.”
