Coca-Cola has a very unique way of making sure iconic drink can't be counterfeit

Coca-Cola has three main ways it ensures consumers can identify whether or not a bottle is real or counterfeit.

With the countdown to Christmas apparently already on - 97 days and counting - it's not long before the Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan makes its journey around various states to spread some joy and cheer.

However, should you want to crack open and take a sip of the caffeinated goodness before then, how do you know if the can you buy from a store is actually the real deal or not with Coca-Cola reported as being 'the most counterfeited beverage on the market'?

In May 2023, authorities raided a property in Mexico City and discovered around 20,000 empty bottles, which closely resembled those within the Coca-Cola brand.

Around 780 full bottles were also found, alongside hoses and cleaning equipment, which led investigators to believe fake versions of the cola was being created and put into the bottles too. Oh and clearly not doing things by halves, there were stolen delivery trucks found at the property as well.

Mexico City prosecution spokesperson Ulises Lara said, as quoted by AP News: "Information came to light that this property was possibly being used to manufacture soft drinks with similar characteristics to a well known cola brand."

Mexico's Coca-Cola beverage and retail company, which operates the largest independent Coca-Cola bottling group in the world, said in a report: "The prevalence of counterfeit goods at notorious physical marketplaces remains a significant problem, exacerbated by the involvement of transnational criminal organizations."

But how does the company prevent such counterfeit items from being misidentified as the real deal by consumers?

Coca-Cola is reportedly the 'most counterfeited beverage on the market' (Vernon Yuen/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Well, Acviss reports Coca-cola uses 'unique closures or seals' on its products' packaging, which means it's easier for consumers to identify whether the product is authentic or not.

Not only this, but in all official Coca-Cola packaging, 'hidden codes are incorporated' written in security inks which are 'only visible under ultraviolet light' - learn something new every day, eh?

And last but not least, the Coca-Cola Company 'maintains strict quality control standards throughout its vast bottling network safeguarding brand reputation and consumer safety'.

So, you may go on holiday and nab as many pairs of fake designer sunglasses, bags and flip flops as you can, but the next time you buy a bottle of something that appears to be Coca-Cola, you may want to look a little harder to check that what you're putting in your body is the real deal.