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Forty years ago, on 23 April 1985, Coca-Cola decided to change the secret formula of its fizzy drink, in a bid to be market leaders.

They launched a new flavour called ‘New Coke’.

But, after a public backlash and thousands of angry calls, bosses were forced to act and bring back the old recipe.

In 2011, author Mark Pendergrast spoke to Alan Johnston about the change.

Eye-witness accounts brought to life by archive. Witness History is for those fascinated by the past. We take you to the events that have shaped our world through the eyes of the people who were there. For nine minutes every day, we take you back in time and all over the world, to examine wars, coups, scientific discoveries, cultural moments and much more.

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(Photo: Coca-Cola. Credit: Roger Ressmeyer/CORBIS/VCG via Getty Images)