<P> The first outdoor wall advertisement that promoted the Coca - Cola drink was painted in 1894 in Cartersville, Georgia . Cola syrup was sold as an over-the - counter dietary supplement for upset stomach . By the time of its 50th anniversary, the soft drink had reached the status of a national icon in the USA . In 1935, it was certified kosher by Atlanta Rabbi Tobias Geffen, after the company made minor changes in the sourcing of some ingredients . </P> <P> The longest running commercial Coca - Cola soda fountain anywhere was Atlanta's Fleeman's Pharmacy, which first opened its doors in 1914 . Jack Fleeman took over the pharmacy from his father and ran it until 1995; closing it after 81 years . On July 12, 1944, the one - billionth gallon of Coca - Cola syrup was manufactured by The Coca - Cola Company . Cans of Coke first appeared in 1955 . </P> <P> On April 23, 1985, Coca - Cola, amid much publicity, attempted to change the formula of the drink with "New Coke". Follow - up taste tests revealed most consumers preferred the taste of New Coke to both Coke and Pepsi but Coca - Cola management was unprepared for the public's nostalgia for the old drink, leading to a backlash . The company gave in to protests and returned to a variation of the old formula using high fructose corn syrup instead of cane sugar as the main sweetener, under the name Coca - Cola Classic, on July 10, 1985 . </P> <P> On July 5, 2005, it was revealed that Coca - Cola would resume operations in Iraq for the first time since the Arab League boycotted the company in 1968 . </P>

When did coke start using high fructose corn syrup