Anytime a company lays someone off, there's a possibility the person will take something with them. Coke, holder of the world's most famous trade secret, was particularly attuned to that risk.
A federal judge in Tennessee has sentenced a chemical engineer to 14 years in prison for conspiring to steal secret Coca-Cola chemical formulas for China.
https://www.afinalwarning.com/513927.html (Natural News) Chinese-born American immigrant You Xiaorong was convicted on April 22 for stealing trade secrets worth $120 million from several companies, including American firms. The 59-year-old, who is also known as Shannon You, was working alongside her Chinese associates to start a company in China using stolen BPA-free coating technology. Besides establishing this new company, prosecutors also argued that her purpose for stealing was to benefit the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
After a 12-day trial, You was found guilty of conspiracy to commit economic espionage, conspiracy to commit trade secret theft, possession of stolen trade secrets, economic espionage and wire fraud.