Is Fanta the new symbol of white supremacy?
- A.J. Voiles
- Nov 14, 2017
- 2 min read
Frogs, New Balance shoes, milk. Everything seems to be taken by the recent surge in white nationalism and turned into a mascot for racists, neo-Nazis, and Trump supporters. In an age where identity politics are injected into everything, brand loyalty can be shattered by conflicting ideology and evolving symbolism. The newest brand to be adopted by Nazi sympathizers might make you think twice about your next choice at the soda fountain.
Fanta was first thought of as a workaround to a trade imposed on Nazi Germany in 1940. Unable to source Coca-Cola syrup, Max Kieth, the head of Coca-Cola Deutschland, figured out a substitute that would appease a nationalistic society. The recipe consisted only of ingredients available to Germany at that time, which Kieth would later refer to as "the leftovers of the leftovers". The name derives from a brainstorming session in which Kieth told his team to "use their imagination". Quickly heeding that advice, salesman Joe Knipp exclaimed "Fanta!', an abridgement of the the German word for imagination, fantasie. After WWII, Coca-Cola regained control over Fanta production, and discontinued the product. In the early 1950's the Pepsi Corporation released a gauntlet of new drinks prompting Coca-Cola to relaunch Fanta in 1955. Today, Fanta is known for its variety of flavors, and a lot of millennials can never get the tune of "Want a Fanta" from the early 2000's commercials out of their heads. But due to its roots, Fanta is becoming a hot topic among the Alt-Right and their ilk.
As with most modern right wing internet stories, 4chan (particularly it's board "Politically Incorrect") is at the heart of all of this. Many anonymous posters on the forum share a sentiment of European pride when discussing the beverage.
Screenshots from 4chan show how a soda becomes a hate symbol.
Cyber-Nazis seem to be very found of Fanta
Society always finds a way to sensationalize anything, and this is just another one of those cases. A few people associating something with their own ideals shouldn't dissuade you from enjoying it. But if the ADL happens to get involved, you may need to acquire a taste for Sunkist.
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