It’s a small sip that is hard to swallow. Philippe Close, Mayor of the City of Brussels and Nawal Ben Hamou, Secretary of State for Housing in the Brussels region, have agreed to publicly taste Salaam Cola, a cola unlike any other since it intends to donate part of its profits in support of the Palestinian cause.
In a video published on social networks, Nawal Ben Hamou even calls for a boycott of the “real” Coca-Cola and invites the public to be, she says, on the right side of history. A scandal for Theo Francken while the creator of Salaam Cola reminds us that the drink does not only support Palestinians but also helps many children affected by the war.
Which Palestinians exactly do some of the profits from Salaam Cola go to?
The designer assures that part of the profits will mainly go to children affected by the war.
The sugar-free Salaam helps children in Syria, the classic Salaam is intended for the Palestinian cause. And the Yemonade supports children suffering from hunger in Yemen.
Salaam Cola’s mission is to oppose brands associated with funding war crimes or profiting from stolen Palestinian land.
Launched in May 2022
Salaam Cola was launched in May 2022, with dual headquarters in Türkiye and the UK, where it is also sold.
In the UK, the drink has been popular in the wake of the war between Israel and Hamas, with sales increasing since December 2023. Customers say that if brands have a visible connection to Israel, consumers will look for alternatives. They want to make sure their spending is aligned with their values.
As one specialist in Islam confided, it is a product labeled halal and therefore Islamic, intended in fact for a certain population, it is a symbol of ethnic belonging or community behavior, a bit like an ecologist who buys organic products. It is the reflection of belonging to a community.
As to whether the benefits actually go to children, it would take a big, long and complicated investigation. After much research, it does not appear that Salaam Cola is the subject of this.
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