Urban Legends of Popular Brands

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Is It True?

Spam tastes just like human flesh. A friend of a friend once got stabbed by a hypodermic needle at McDonald's -- and the hamburgers there are full of worms. And everyone knows that The Blair Witch Project was based on a true story. These are just a few of the rumors that have brought down some of the world's biggest brands -- and just because they seem too bizarre to believe doesn't mean they can't seriously hurt the bottom line. Minyanville takes a look at 10 of the most outlandish, brand-bedeviling urban legends. Click through the gallery to read them all -- if you dare.

First Up: Coca-Cola

Coca-Cola

Only 2 people in the world know the top-secret formula behind Coca-Cola -- and each only knows half the recipe. At least that’s the claim of a recent Coke commercial -- and of an urban legend that's been making the rounds for decades. We called Coke’s customer relations hotline to see if we could make them cough it up. Click here to find out what they spilled.

Next: Spam

Spam

Spam -- that bubblegum-pink, gelatinous, meat-like substance that comes so conveniently in a can -- has been the object of much fascinated, if queasy, speculation. The most alarming of the rumors? That Spam is so dearly beloved because its flavor closely approximates the deliciously porky taste of human flesh. Is it true? Kind of. For our ongoing taste test, click here.

Next: Bubble-Yum

Bubble-Yum

The country’s most-popular chewing gum has long been plagued by the rumor that its deliciously soft texture comes from a certain additive: spider eggs. While that turns out not to be true, the FDA has some surprising standards for how many insects each of us can eat per year. Fly eggs in pizza sauce, for example, turn out to be A-ok. To find out just how many bugs you’re eating annually, click here.

Next: McDonald's

McDonald's

Despite its staggering global success, McDonald's has suffered through some seriously awful PR. From worm meat and cow eyeballs in the hamburgers to child-killing hypodermics in the ball pit, many of those rumors make the Golden Arches seem like the gates of Hell. Not to mention the damage done by charges that it single-handedly caused America’s obesity epidemic. For more on Mickey D’s super-sized urban legend, click here.

Next: Mountain Dew

Mountain Dew

The rumor: Mountain Dew lowers your sperm count. Perhaps that’s why Pepsi has positioned Mountain Dew as the beverage of manly men -- men who own boogie boards and know how to use them. It does, however, make you lose your teeth, which often puts a serious damper on finding a mate. To learn more about the scientific miracle that is Yellow Dye #5, click here.

Next: The Blair Witch Project

The Blair Witch Project

Everyone remembers the trailer: "In October of 1994, 3 student filmmakers disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland while shooting a documentary. A year later, their footage was found." Barely 30 seconds long, that teaser spawned one of the most tenacious urban legends in history -- and the widespread belief that a horror flick was real. For more on the movie that had millions of Americans scared stupid, click here.

Next: Altoids

Altoids

The most enticing dangerous liaisons have one thing in common: food. Some believe chocolate, chili peppers, figs, garlic, honey, oysters and walnuts are aphrodisiacs. But Altoids, the “curiously strong mints”? According to some, former president Bill Clinton swore by them. Which explains a lot about Monica Lewinsky. Click here for more on weirdly potent mints -- and weirdly potent presidents.

Next: Pop Rocks

Pop Rocks

Pop Rocks candy is an explosive way to get your sweets: When a piece hits your tongue, it’s like there’s a party in your mouth, and everyone’s invited. So it comes as no surprise that a food item this unique is intimidating to some. So intimidating, in fact, that a craving for Pop Rocks could seem like a case of fatal attraction. To find out whether Coke plus candy is really what killed Little Mikey, click here.

Next: Windex

Windex

In My Big Fat Greek Wedding, the father of the bride assures everyone that Windex cures everything “from psoriasis to poison ivy” and demonstrates its universal usefulness at every turn. But your dermatologist wouldn’t recommend this bright-blue ammonia solution as a skin lotion -- especially if used frequently. For more on common household cure-alls -- and which ones not to put in your eyes -- click here.

Next: P&G

Procter & Gamble

Sometimes, an urban legend is even mightier than the long arm of the law. Procter & Gamble, for example, has sued (and sued, and sued) to stop rumors that all its profits go to Satan. But the rumors stubbornly refuse to die -- maybe because Amway, one of its main competitors, did more than its part to spread the word that P&G openly bowed to the Dark Lord. To find out more about this desperate battle between good and Amway, click here.

Next: More Minyanville on AOL

More Minyanville on AOL

Sometime between the mid-90s and today, you grew up, and the retailers that once lined the white-washed walkways of your favorite suburban shopping center became a distant memory. Click through our gallery as Minyanville reveals 10 old favorite mall brands.

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