Fanta, the much-loved orange flavoured drink from the Coca-Cola Company has pretty interesting beginnings that go back to Nazi Germany during World War II. This popular drink was born in Germany at the height of the Third Reich rule.
Hitler & Coca-Cola in Germany
As Hitler rose to power, the American Coca-Cola continued doing business in Germany. In fact, they even sponsored the Berlin Olympics. However, the company’s relationship with its German subsidiary, Coca-Cola GmbH, changed when Japan bombed Pearl Harbour.
Once the US entered the war, American companies had to halt business operations in all enemy countries. Coca-Cola stopped the export of its 7X flavouring (the secret sauce behind their soda). In order to keep Coca-Cola GmbH afloat, its head, Max Keith, had to come up with another soda specifically targeting the German population.
Product for wartime rationing
Keeping wartime rationing in mind, Keith developed a recipe for a drink using fruit shavings, apple fibres and pulp, beet sugar, and whey – the liquid remaining after milk has been curdled and strained during cheese production.It was originally yellow in colour. For a name, Joe Knipp, a salesman, suggested ‘Fanta’ - short for the German word ‘fantasie’ (fantasy).
Fanta's rapid popularity
As there were no other options in the German market, Fanta rapidly became very popular. Apart from being consumed as a soft drink, it was also used as a soup sweetener due to rationing constraints in the country. This drink made up of ‘leftovers of the leftovers’ saved Coca-Cola GmbH.
After the defeat of Nazi Germany in the war, communication between the American headquarters and its German subsidiary was restored. Fanta production was allowed to continue until it was dropped in 1949.
The recipe change
In 1955, the Fanta recipe was renewed using locally sourced oranges in Italy., This became the basis of the Fanta formula we see today. The name was retained, mostly due to convenience.
World War II left behind in its wake a lot of byproducts including jet aircraft and radar technology, but the origin of the fizzy orange drink sold in every tuck shop from Bangalore to Belgium is perhaps the most intriguing.
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