Buzz
Whether you're a fan of traditional cola, root beer, or lemon-lime soda, or you prefer a more niche option like Cherry 7-Up or Code Red Mountain Dew, carbonated soft drinks hold a unique appeal. In fact, the global market for carbonated beverages reached an impressive $408.9 billion in 2019, showing no signs of slowing down. Sodas continue to be a top choice for consumers, especially among Generation X and Y.
After reading these ten eerie and tragic tales tied to soda, you might think twice before reaching for your favorite fizzy beverage.
10. Mountain Dew
Though Mountain Dew is now known for its 35 distinct flavors and its association with “gamer fuel,” it was originally conceived for a very different reason. In 1932, brothers Barney and Alley Hartman began bottling their lemon-lime drink in Knoxville, Tennessee. The name, derived from a slang term for homemade moonshine, was initially intended as a whiskey companion.
To produce moonshine, a fermentation process is necessary, which creates two types of alcohol: ethanol and methanol. Ethanol is the drinkable form, while methanol is toxic. The body converts methanol into formaldehyde, which is then turned into formic acid, ultimately poisoning the body's cells. Racing fuel, which consists almost entirely of methanol, produces a similar intoxicating effect to ethanol, but methanol is highly poisonous. Despite this, racing fuel is cheap and easily accessible, making it tempting for underage drinkers.
In January 2016, four teenage boys at a party concocted a lethal mix called “Dewshine,” which combined Mountain Dew with racing fuel. The teens intentionally made and consumed this dangerous mixture. On January 21, 2016, authorities were called to the home of 16-year-old Logan Stephenson, where he was found dead in his bed. Moments later, they were alerted to the home of his best friend, J.D. Byram, who had started experiencing seizures. Byram passed away the following Monday.
9. Grape Soda
The allure of the forbidden often sparks a relentless curiosity, especially during childhood. Whether it’s a restricted room, an off-limits area in the neighborhood, or an adult’s special treat, we've all given in to temptation at some point. For five-year-old Alexa Linboom, sneaking her stepmother’s grape soda would tragically cost her life.
On January 1, 2012, Alexa took “one or two grape drinks” from her stepmother, Mary Vaughn. As punishment, she was forced to drink over two liters of a mixture of grape soda and water within a span of two hours. The large volume of liquid caused her sodium levels to plummet, resulting in her brain swelling. Alexa screamed in agony before falling unconscious, but her father and stepmother waited several hours before finally taking her to the hospital.
She was declared brain dead and taken off life support just two days later. Her death was ruled a homicide due to acute water intoxication. Both her father, Randall Vaughn, and her stepmother received life sentences without the possibility of parole.
8. 7-Up
The Dominican Republic, located on the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean, is renowned for its stunning beaches, abundant recreational opportunities, and vibrant culture. With the Caribbean Sea to the south and the Atlantic Ocean to the north, it seems like the ideal destination for a family vacation, romantic retreat, or beachside wedding.
In October 2018, Awilda Montes planned a romantic escape to the Dominican Republic with her boyfriend. However, their stay at the Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville Resort quickly turned disastrous. Just hours into their visit, Montes decided to grab a bottle of 7-Up from the mini bar. When she opened it, she noticed the lack of fizz but proceeded to take a sip. Immediately, she tasted bleach, which caused her mouth and tongue to burn, and she began spitting blood.
The resort labeled the incident as an “accidental mix-up” and tried to make amends with apology dinners, complimentary nights, and couples massages. However, these “apologies” came at a cost. The resort staff requested that Montes sign a waiver, which she refused. Even more unsettling was the fact that three other Americans had died at the same resort. Among them was 41-year-old Miranda Schaup-Werner, who passed away after drinking a beverage from the mini bar, and a couple from Maryland who were found dead in their room.
7. Diet Soda
Diet sodas have become a popular choice for individuals with diabetes or those aiming to reduce their sugar intake, as they are sweetened with artificial substitutes like aspartame or sucralose instead of regular sugar. However, despite the FDA’s approval of aspartame for human consumption, it can be extremely harmful to people with phenylketonuria, a rare genetic disorder that prevents the body from processing phenylalanine. For those affected, aspartame is highly toxic. Allergic reactions to aspartame can trigger symptoms such as swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, skin rashes, or swelling of the salivary glands.
Elizabeth Perkins, who has phenylketonuria, slipped into a coma for three days after accidentally being served a diet soda instead of the regular soda she had ordered at a local pub. She knew something was wrong after the first sip. The room suddenly went dark, and when she regained consciousness, she found herself in a hospital, having lost three days. For most people, the mistake of receiving a diet soda instead of a regular one might be a minor inconvenience. But for someone like Perkins, it could be a matter of life and death.
6. Pepsi
Sibling rivalry is a common experience in homes with multiple children, whether they are biological siblings, step-siblings, or adopted children. Insults, teasing, arguments, and even taking each other's toys are frequent ways that siblings compete for attention or affection from their parents. For many, the rivalry fades as they grow older, and some even become best friends. However, for others, the competition can persist throughout their lives.
In New Jersey, two brothers were watching an NFC Championship game together when Michael Charles, upset that the San Francisco 49ers were losing, grabbed the last can of Pepsi. When his brother asked him not to take the soda, Michael exploded in anger, shouting insults, and picking up a pipe to strike his brother in the head.
The altercation escalated as Michael and his brother resorted to stabbing each other with knives, leaving the area drenched in blood by the time the authorities arrived. Michael fled, and the police were unable to track him down. This tragic and violent episode of sibling rivalry went far beyond a simple argument, with their mother witnessing the entire ordeal.
5. Coca-Cola
Soda consumption is responsible for over 180,000 preventable deaths annually. Despite the knowledge that drinking soda or sugary beverages regularly is harmful to our health, there is something undeniably refreshing about sipping our favorite soft drink, particularly on a hot day. However, for a 22-year-old man in Beijing, China, choosing a bottle of Coca-Cola over water on a scorching day proved to be a fatal error.
In China, a man consumed a 1.5-liter bottle of Coca-Cola in just 10 minutes to cool down on a hot day. Shortly thereafter, he began suffering from bloating and severe abdominal pain caused by the carbonation in the soda. He was rushed to the emergency room, where a CT scan revealed a dangerous build-up of gas, not only in his intestines but also in his portal vein.
The portal vein plays a crucial role in transporting blood from the digestive tract to the liver. When gas enters this vein, it obstructs blood flow, depriving the liver of the oxygen it needs to function properly, leading to the death of liver tissue. Despite doctors’ efforts to expel the gas and administer fluids to save the liver, their attempts were in vain. The man succumbed to hepatic ischemia, also known as ‘shock liver,’ caused by a lack of oxygen.
4. Ginger Ale
An improvised explosive device (IED) can take on various forms and be activated in multiple ways. The powerful blast from an IED can inflict serious damage on pressure-sensitive organs like the lungs, ears, and abdomen, cause burns to the skin and lungs, and lead to injuries from shrapnel or debris propelled by the explosion. Shelly Millsap experienced an axonal brain injury, akin to those suffered by soldiers hit by IEDs. However, her life-changing injury wasn’t sustained in combat—it happened in her own kitchen.
On the morning of January 17, 2013, Shelly Millsap entered her kitchen and, as she passed the sink, was suddenly knocked to the ground by a loud explosion. She had forgotten a bottle of homemade ginger ale she had left in the sink, and the fermentation of the yeast and sugar inside had turned the bottle into a bomb. As she bled and screamed in pain, she still managed to send a photo of her injury to her husband, Bob, and then drove herself to the Victor Clinic for treatment.
The clinic staff quickly assessed the seriousness of her injuries, and a nurse transported her to a second clinic for further examination. There, it was determined that she had a broken nose. The following day, Millsap returned to her job as a baker at the Wildwood Room, but six days later, during a follow-up at the Victor Clinic, a nurse practitioner grew concerned about her nasal injury. She was advised to rest and refrain from working.
Almost a week after the explosion, Shelly Millsap began showing signs of more severe damage. Her memory faltered, the right side of her body became paralyzed, and she struggled to speak. An MRI was performed, but the results appeared normal. A neurologist later diagnosed her with a traumatic brain injury, and a second opinion confirmed she had suffered an axonal brain injury, affecting her speech, short-term memory, and motor skills. A single forgotten bottle of ginger ale completely altered Shelly Millsap's life, and her journey would never be the same again.
3. 7-Up (Again)
Methamphetamines, also known as meth, speed, crank, or ice, are highly addictive stimulants that impact the nervous system by boosting the brain's natural dopamine production. It has become the second most widely used illegal drug globally. In 2017, José María Soto Gastélum tragically died from what was initially believed to be a methamphetamine overdose. However, it was later revealed that he had never used the drug.
On September 17, 2017, Gastélum bought a 7-Up from a convenience store in Valle de Mexicali. Soon after drinking it, he began to experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, limb pain, difficulty breathing, and headaches. He was treated at the ISSSTECALI clinic along with three other individuals exhibiting similar symptoms. Toxicology tests later revealed that Gastélum had methamphetamines in his system at 'high concentrations,' even though he was not a drug user.
It was later revealed that bottles of 7-Up sold in the Mexicali region had been contaminated with methamphetamines and placed on store shelves for purchase. While 7-Up products sold in the United States were unaffected, over 77,000 bottles were seized from a PepsiCo bottling plant in Mexico.
2. Togito Cola
Asthma is a condition that causes a person's airways to become inflamed and swollen when triggered by certain stimuli, making breathing difficult. Without proper management, an asthma attack can lead to suffocation. Tragically, this is what happened to a young girl who simply wanted to enjoy a soft drink.
On August 3, 2021, a 13-year-old girl in Chennai, India, bought two bottles of Togito Cola, a locally sold soft drink found in certain parts of the country. Diagnosed with asthma, she had been advised to avoid cold beverages. When her older sister, Ashwini, caught her drinking the soda, she scolded her, but it was too late. The girl quickly finished the remaining soda before her sister could stop her. Almost immediately, she began coughing and vomiting. Ashwini rushed to tell their mother, who worked at a nearby church, about the incident. However, before they could reach home, the girl collapsed. She was taken to the hospital but was declared dead upon arrival.
The store that sold the soda was temporarily shut down after the girl’s grandmother and local residents revealed that the shopkeeper had a history of selling expired products. The local food safety authorities also took action by temporarily shutting down the beverage company's manufacturing plant.
1. Sprite
The beloved Sprite soft drink, which we know today, was originally created in West Germany in 1959. Initially part of the Fanta brand, it was known as Clear Lemon Fanta. It wasn't until two years later that it made its debut in the United States. Now, Sprite is sold in over 190 countries across the globe and comes in a variety of seventeen different versions. Known for its lemon-lime taste, it’s been marketed as a refreshing drink choice, but for one woman, a sip from a Sprite bottle tragically led to her death.
In January 2011, Sarah Jane Moss was staying at her boyfriend Daniel Fairbrother’s home when she took a sip from a Sprite bottle left on a kitchen shelf. Almost immediately, her face began to swell, and she started vomiting a black, foul-smelling substance. Fairbrother’s mother rushed Moss to the hospital, where medical staff were told she had ingested fish tank fluid. The doctors advised her to go home and drink more fluids.
Two days later, Moss's condition worsened, and she returned to the hospital with a red rash, sores around her mouth, vomiting blood, and struggling to speak. Upon testing the Sprite bottle she had drunk from, doctors found dangerously high levels of alkaline. It was discovered that Moss had accidentally consumed cannabis fertilizer instead. Over the next six months, her health deteriorated rapidly, and her esophagus became as fragile as a thread. Despite undergoing several emergency surgeries, Moss passed away on June 24, 2011, leaving behind her young daughter.
