79-882: Coca-Cola Zero Sugar , commonly known as Coke Zero , is a diet cola produced by the Coca-Cola Company . The drink was introduced in 2005 as Coca-Cola Zero as a new no-calorie cola. In 2017, the formula was modified and the name updated, the announcement of which led to some backlash from consumers. Another formula change occurred in the United Kingdom in July 2021, in the United States in August 2021, and in Canada in September 2021. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar
158-427: A baking sweetener and prone to degradation in products hosting a high pH, as required for a long shelf life. The stability of aspartame under heating can be improved to some extent by encasing it in fats or in maltodextrin . The stability when dissolved in water depends markedly on pH. At room temperature, it is most stable at pH 4.3, where its half-life is nearly 300 days. At pH 7, however, its half-life
237-485: A higher percentage of females than males consumed diet drinks. A higher percentage of non-Hispanic white people consumed diet drinks compared with non-Hispanic black and Hispanic people. The study included calorie-free and low-calorie versions of soft drinks, fruit drinks, energy drinks , sports drinks, and carbonated water. Diet soda is defined in US law as a food of minimal nutritional value . Aspartame Aspartame
316-512: A phenylalanine warning label. In 1970, the Food and Drug Administration banned cyclamates in the United States based on the results of a study which found that it caused bladder cancer in rats in combination with saccharin. This effect was later revealed to be specific to rodents; neither saccharin nor cyclamate are now considered human carcinogens. Nevertheless, cyclamate remains banned in
395-779: A popularity contest. Users could choose designs from Christmas trees and Santa's head to reindeer, sleighs, and turkeys. This initiative was tied to a social media campaign, where the top 100 sweater designs with the most votes were manufactured and shipped to the contest winners. According to the Coca-Cola Company, the website generated nearly 42,000 sweater designs in its first four days. Diet drink Diet or light beverages (also marketed as sugar-free , zero-calorie , low-calorie , zero-sugar or zero ) are generally sugar-free, artificially sweetened beverages with few or no calories . They are marketed for diabetics and other people who want to reduce their sugar and/or caloric intake. Though artificial sweeteners had been known since
474-490: A safe upper limit. The primary source for exposure to aspartame in the US is diet soft drinks , though it can be consumed in other products, such as pharmaceutical preparations, fruit drinks, and chewing gum among others in smaller quantities. A 12-US-fluid-ounce (350 ml; 12 imp fl oz) can of diet soda contains 0.18 grams (0.0063 oz) of aspartame, and, for a 75-kilogram (165 lb) adult, it takes approximately 21 cans of diet soda daily to consume
553-497: A study by the National Center for Health Statistics , about one-fifth of the US population ages 2 years and over consumed diet drinks on a given day in 2009‒2010, and 11% consumed 16 fluid oz. of diet drinks or more. Overall, the percentage consuming diet drinks was higher among females compared with males. The percentage consuming diet drinks was similar for females and males at all ages except among 12- to 19-year-olds, where
632-464: A sugar-free version of Coca-Cola Classic , also sweetened with sucralose, was being formulated as well. This formulation was eventually called Coca-Cola Zero , though it is sweetened with aspartame in conjunction with acesulfame potassium . Stevia-based sweeteners incorporate steviol glycosides , sweet-tasting compounds produced in the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant. One study investigated
711-542: A sweetener found in diet drinks and other food items, may be a potential cancer-causing agent. However, it is still considered safe to consume in moderation. In countries outside of the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, the term "light" is often used instead of "diet"; sometimes, even in countries that do not speak English, the word "light" in English is used (e.g., "Coca-Cola Light" in Spain). The formulation of these
790-513: Is actually linked to cancer. The FDA disagrees with IARC's conclusion that these studies support classifying aspartame as a possible carcinogen to humans. FDA scientists reviewed the scientific information included in IARC's review in 2021 when it was first made available and identified significant shortcomings in the studies on which IARC relied. Reviews found no evidence that low doses of aspartame had neurotoxic effects. A 2019 policy statement by
869-461: Is an artificial non- saccharide sweetener 200 times sweeter than sucrose and is commonly used as a sugar substitute in foods and beverages. It is a methyl ester of the aspartic acid / phenylalanine dipeptide with brand names NutraSweet , Equal , and Canderel . Aspartame was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1974, and then again in 1981, after approval
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#1732801031275948-499: Is an ingredient in approximately 6,000 consumer foods and beverages sold worldwide, including (but not limited to) diet sodas and other soft drinks , instant breakfasts , breath mints , cereals , sugar-free chewing gum , cocoa mixes, frozen desserts , gelatin desserts , juices , laxatives , chewable vitamin supplements , milk drinks, pharmaceutical drugs and supplements, shake mixes, tabletop sweeteners, teas , instant coffees , topping mixes, wine coolers , and yogurt . It
1027-678: Is defined as the "amount of a food additive, expressed on a body weight basis, that can be ingested daily over a lifetime without appreciable health risk". The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and the European Commission 's Scientific Committee on Food (later becoming EFSA ) have determined this value is 40 mg/kg of body weight per day for aspartame, while the FDA has set its ADI for aspartame at 50 mg/kg per day – an amount equated to consuming 75 packets of commercial aspartame sweetener per day to be within
1106-505: Is due to its binding of the heterodimer G protein-coupled receptor formed by the proteins TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 . Rodents do not experience aspartame as sweet-tasting, due to differences in their taste receptors. Aspartame is rapidly hydrolyzed in the small intestine by digestive enzymes which break aspartame down into methanol , phenylalanine , aspartic acid , and further metabolites, such as formaldehyde and formic acid . Due to its rapid and complete metabolism, aspartame
1185-413: Is made with a mix of stevia and sugar as its sweeteners. Pepsi has also released a variant of their cola sweetened with stevia and sugar, called Pepsi Next . The table below displays milligrams of sweetener and phosphorus in a 12-ounce (≈355 ml) serving of canned soft drink, as provided by the manufacturers in the US market in 2012. Fountain drinks may contain different sweeteners or different amounts of
1264-444: Is nearly synonymous with the use of aspartame in beverages. Neotame and advantame are further derivatives of aspartame. They received FDA approval in 1998 and 2014 respectively. Due to its high efficiency (20,000 times sucrose) which enables use of minute quantities for sweetening, advantame has the advantage of being safe to consume for individuals with phenylketonuria . As such, products sweetened with it are not required to carry
1343-400: Is not found in circulating blood, even following ingestion of high doses over 200 mg/kg. Aspartic acid (aspartate) is one of the most common amino acids in the typical diet. As with methanol and phenylalanine, intake of aspartic acid from aspartame is less than would be expected from other dietary sources. At the 90th percentile of intake, aspartame provides only between 1% and 2% of
1422-494: Is only a few days. Most soft-drinks have a pH between 3 and 5, where aspartame is reasonably stable. In products that may require a longer shelf life, such as syrups for fountain beverages , aspartame is sometimes blended with a more stable sweetener, such as saccharin . Descriptive analyses of solutions containing aspartame report a sweet aftertaste as well as bitter and off-flavor aftertastes. The acceptable daily intake (ADI) value for food additives, including aspartame,
1501-469: Is provided as a table condiment in some countries. Aspartame is less suitable for baking than other sweeteners because it breaks down when heated and loses much of its sweetness. In 1985, Monsanto bought G.D. Searle, and the aspartame business became a separate Monsanto subsidiary, NutraSweet . In March 2000, Monsanto sold it to J.W. Childs Associates Equity Partners II L.P. European use patents on aspartame expired beginning in 1987, with
1580-444: Is slightly different than the "diet"-named versions and thus the taste is slightly different. In an effort to profit on the surging popularity of low-carbohydrate diets , Coca-Cola and PepsiCo both released reduced-calorie versions of their flagship colas in 2004. The products contain approximately half the sugar of the regular versions. The Pepsi variant, Pepsi Edge , is sweetened with sucralose and corn syrup. The sweetening of
1659-523: Is the non-aspartame diet soft drink brand with the highest sales today; it uses a combination of sucralose and acesulfame potassium. In the US, sucralose and Ace-K received FDA approval for use in soft drinks in 1998. Advocates say drinks employing these sweeteners have a more natural sugar-like taste than those made just with aspartame, and do not have a strong aftertaste. The newer aspartame-free drinks can also be safely consumed by phenylketonurics , because they do not contain phenylalanine . Critics say
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#17328010312751738-476: Is very popular, and that fans compared the planned change to the launch of New Coke in 1985. However, Beverage Digest executive editor Duane Stanford noted that it was very similar in flavor, and that the formula likely was tweaked only slightly as the ingredients list is the same. He noted that the rebranding was the main emphasis. In Australia, the soda was relaunched as "Coca-Cola No Sugar" in 2017 but had trouble gaining initial acceptance. In July 2018, it
1817-596: The American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that there were no safety concerns about aspartame in fetal or childhood development or as a factor in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder . Reviews have found little evidence to indicate that aspartame induces headaches, although certain subsets of consumers may be sensitive to it. Aspartame passes through wastewater treatment plants mainly unchanged. The perceived sweetness of aspartame (and other sweet substances like acesulfame potassium ) in humans
1896-652: The Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) concluded, since many problems with the aspartame studies were minor and did not affect the conclusions, the studies could be used to assess aspartame's safety. In 1980, the FDA convened a Public Board of Inquiry (PBOI) consisting of independent advisors charged with examining the purported relationship between aspartame and brain cancer . The PBOI concluded aspartame does not cause brain damage, but it recommended against approving aspartame at that time, citing unanswered questions about cancer in laboratory rats. In 1983,
1975-632: The Coca-Cola variant, Coca-Cola C2 , is a combination of corn syrup, aspartame, acesulfame potassium and sucralose. Pepsi discontinued Edge in 2005, citing lackluster sales. Coca-Cola soon followed suit. Pepsi then released Pepsi Max in 2012. Half of the sugar of a can of regular cola still exceeds the daily sugar allowance of some popular low-carbohydrate diets. It is possible that these soft drinks were targeted to so-called "carb-conscious consumers", who are paying attention to their carbohydrate intake but not trying to drastically reduce it. According to
2054-694: The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Health Canada , and Food Standards Australia New Zealand . As of 2017, reviews of clinical trials showed that using aspartame (or other non-nutritive sweeteners) in place of sugar reduces calorie intake and body weight in adults and children. A 2017 review of metabolic effects by consuming aspartame found that it did not affect blood glucose , insulin , total cholesterol , triglycerides , calorie intake, or body weight. While high-density lipoprotein levels were higher compared to control, they were lower compared to sucrose. In 2023,
2133-423: The N -formyl aspartic anhydride; then the protecting group is removed from aspartic nitrogen by acid hydrolysis. The drawback of this technique is that a byproduct, the bitter-tasting β-form, is produced when the wrong carboxyl group from aspartic acid anhydride links to phenylalanine, with desired and undesired isomer forming in a 4:1 ratio. A process using an enzyme from Bacillus thermoproteolyticus to catalyze
2212-496: The World Health Organization recommended against the use of common non-sugar sweeteners (NSS), including aspartame, to control body weight or lower the risk of non-communicable diseases , stating: "The recommendation is based on the findings of a systematic review of the available evidence which suggests that use of NSS does not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children. Results of
2291-446: The peptide bonds are also hydrolyzed, resulting in free amino acids. Two approaches to synthesis are used commercially. In the chemical synthesis, the two carboxyl groups of aspartic acid are joined into an anhydride, and the amino group is protected with a formyl group as the formamide, by treatment of aspartic acid with a mixture of formic acid and acetic anhydride. Phenylalanine is converted to its methyl ester and combined with
2370-452: The "potential risk of aspartame causing damage to genes and inducing cancer" and deemed the amount found in diet sodas safe to consume. The safety of aspartame has been studied since its discovery, and it is a rigorously tested food ingredient. Aspartame has been deemed safe for human consumption by over 100 regulatory agencies in their respective countries, including the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), UK Food Standards Agency ,
2449-432: The 1980s linked saccharin to cancer as well, most manufacturers switched to aspartame in 1983. By the early 1990s, a wide array of companies had their own diet refreshments on supermarket shelves. Tab made a comeback during the late 1990s after new studies demonstrated that saccharin is not an important factor in the risk of cancer. Nevertheless, The Coca-Cola Company has maintained its 1984 reformulation, replacing some of
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2528-414: The 1980s, with EU-wide approval in 1994. The Scientific Committee on Food (SCF) reviewed subsequent safety studies and reaffirmed the approval in 2002. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reported in 2006 that the previously established Acceptable daily intake (ADI) was appropriate, after reviewing yet another set of studies. Under the brand names Equal , NutraSweet , and Canderel , aspartame
2607-602: The 3.7 grams (0.13 oz) of aspartame that would surpass the FDA's 50 mg/kg of body weight ADI of aspartame from diet soda alone. Reviews have analyzed studies which have looked at the consumption of aspartame in countries worldwide, including the US , countries in Europe , and Australia , among others. These reviews have found that even the high levels of intake of aspartame, studied across multiple countries and different methods of measuring aspartame consumption, are well below
2686-519: The ADI for safe consumption of aspartame. Reviews have also found that populations that are believed to be especially high consumers of aspartame, such as children and diabetics, are below the ADI for safe consumption, even considering extreme worst-case scenario calculations of consumption. In a report released on 10 December 2013, the EFSA said that, after an extensive examination of evidence, it ruled out
2765-483: The Coca-Cola logo in red script with white trim, with the word "zero" underneath in lower case in the geometric typeface Avenir (or a customized version of it). These words appeared on a black background. Some details varied from country to country. Later packagings swapped the colors of the "Coca-Cola" script and "Zero", leaving the former in white and the latter in red. The first Coca-Cola Zero Sugar logo featured
2844-402: The Coca-Cola logo in white script, with the words "zero sugar" in black underneath; the word "zero" in lower case in the geometric typeface Avenir (or a customized version of it) and the word "sugar" in upper case. These words appeared in a red disc on a black background. In European markets, the packaging instead matches the classic Coca-Cola red design with the addition of a black band around
2923-610: The FDA and EFSA, and the US National Cancer Institute , have concluded that consuming aspartame is safe in amounts within acceptable daily intake levels and does not cause cancer. These conclusions are based on various sources of evidence, such as reviews and epidemiological studies finding no association between aspartame and cancer. In July 2023, scientists for the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that there
3002-462: The FDA approved aspartame for use in carbonated beverages and for use in other beverages, baked goods, and confections in 1993. In 1996, the FDA removed all restrictions from aspartame, allowing it to be used in all foods. As of May 2023, the FDA stated that it regards aspartame as a safe food ingredient when consumed within the acceptable daily intake level of 50 mg per kg of body weight per day. Several European Union countries approved aspartame in
3081-489: The Holland Sweetener Company manufactured aspartame using the enzymatic process developed by Toyo Soda (Tosoh) and sold as the brand Sanecta. Additionally, they developed a combination aspartame-acesulfame salt under the brand name Twinsweet. They left the sweetener industry in 2006, because "global aspartame markets are facing structural oversupply, which has caused worldwide strong price erosion over
3160-546: The U.S. in August and then throughout Canada in September. The reformulation would be the same recipe that was already available in Europe and Latin America. The company said the recipe would "optimize existing...flavors and existing ingredients" without requiring a change in the listed ingredients or nutritional information. Along with the reformulation, the labeling was updated. The original Coca-Cola Zero logo generally featured
3239-470: The U.S., this includes aspartame and acesulfame potassium . However, the exact combination of sweeteners and preservatives used varies from market to market. Scientific studies consistently confirm aspartame and acesulfame potassium can be safely consumed. Coke Zero was originally specifically marketed to men, who are shown to associate "diet" drinks with women. It was primarily marketed towards young adult males and it has been nicknamed "Bloke Coke" in
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3318-536: The UK. In the U.S., advertising has been tailored to its targeted market by describing the drink as "calorie-free" rather than "diet", since young adult males are said to associate diet drinks with women. U.S. marketing also emphasized its similarity in taste to sugared Coca-Cola; an advertising campaign for the beverage focused on Coca-Cola executives who were so angry over the drinks' similarities, they were considering suing their co-workers for "taste infringement". Continuing
3397-655: The US must state: "Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine" on product labels. In the UK, foods that contain aspartame are required by the Food Standards Agency to list the substance as an ingredient, with the warning "Contains a source of phenylalanine". Manufacturers are also required to print "with sweetener(s)" on the label close to the main product name on foods that contain "sweeteners such as aspartame" or "with sugar and sweetener(s)" on "foods that contain both sugar and sweetener". In Canada, foods that contain aspartame are required to list aspartame among
3476-433: The US patent following suit in 1992. In 2004, the market for aspartame, in which Ajinomoto , the world's largest aspartame manufacturer, had a 40% share, was 14,000 metric tons (15,000 short tons; 14,000 long tons) a year, and consumption of the product was rising by 2% a year. Ajinomoto acquired its aspartame business in 2000 from Monsanto for $ 67 million (equivalent to $ 113 million in 2023 ). In 2007, Asda
3555-642: The US), acesulfame potassium ("Ace K"), and stevia . The ideal goal in artificial sweetening is to replicate the exact taste and texture effects of sucrose with one or more non-caloric sweeteners. Despite decades of research and development, this goal remains elusive. Most sweeteners carry a marked aftertaste, often described as "bitter" or "metallic". The perception of this aftertaste has been studied intensively, and appears to be based on genetic factors that vary from person to person. In recent years, rising consumer preference for "natural" products and concern over
3634-429: The US. Recently, two other sweeteners have been used with increasing frequency: sucralose (marketed as Splenda ) and acesulfame potassium ("Sunett" or "Ace K"). The K in "Ace K" represents the chemical symbol for potassium. Acesulfame potassium is usually combined with aspartame, sucralose, or saccharin rather than alone and its use is particularly common among smaller beverage producers (e.g. Big Red ). Diet Rite
3713-579: The United States, the Coca-Cola Company announced that Coca-Cola Zero would be reformulated and rebranded as Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, intended to taste more like standard Coca-Cola while emphasizing the lack of sugar content. The new formula was first tested in the United Kingdom in June 2016, with plans to roll it out in other countries in the following months. The announcement caused some vocal backlash from consumers. The Washington Post noted Coke Zero
3792-604: The amounts produced routinely by the human body and from other foods and drugs. At the highest expected human doses of consumption of aspartame, there are no increased blood levels of methanol or formic acid, and ingesting aspartame at the 90th percentile of intake would produce 25 times less methanol than what would be considered toxic. Aspartame is a methyl ester of the dipeptide of the natural amino acids L - aspartic acid and L - phenylalanine . Under strongly acidic or alkaline conditions, aspartame may generate methanol by hydrolysis . Under more severe conditions,
3871-612: The blood and brain that could lead to neurological symptoms. Reviews of the literature have found no consistent findings to support such concerns, and, while high doses of aspartame consumption may have some biochemical effects, these effects are not seen in toxicity studies to suggest aspartame can adversely affect neuronal function. As with methanol and aspartic acid, common foods in the typical diet, such as milk, meat, and fruits, will lead to ingestion of significantly higher amounts of phenylalanine than would be expected from aspartame consumption. As of 2023 , regulatory agencies, including
3950-733: The campaign as misleading and established the Zero Coke Movement to comment on the ethics of Coke's activities. Coca-Cola Zero sponsors Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund , the NASCAR Cup Series Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway in August, and also the Suzuka 8 Hours in Japan, a motorcycle endurance race. In 2013, Coca-Cola swapped the logo on Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero bottles and cans in many European countries with 150 of
4029-517: The carcinogenic hazard that may or may not be posed by aspartame consumption." The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) added that the limited cancer assessment indicated no reason to change the recommended acceptable daily intake level of 40 mg per kg of body weight per day, reaffirming the safety of consuming aspartame within this limit. The FDA responded to the report by stating: Aspartame being labeled by IARC as "possibly carcinogenic to humans" does not mean that aspartame
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#17328010312754108-412: The condensation of the chemically altered amino acids will produce high yields without the β-form byproduct. A variant of this method, which has not been used commercially, uses unmodified aspartic acid but produces low yields. Methods for directly producing aspartyl-phenylalanine by enzymatic means, followed by chemical methylation, have also been tried but not scaled for industrial production. Aspartame
4187-444: The daily intake of aspartic acid. The methanol produced by aspartame metabolism is unlikely to be a safety concern for several reasons. The amount of methanol produced from aspartame-sweetened foods and beverages is likely to be less than that from food sources already in diets. With regard to formaldehyde, it is rapidly converted in the body, and the amounts of formaldehyde from the metabolism of aspartame are trivial when compared to
4266-437: The decision, allowing Ajinomoto to pursue a case against Asda to protect aspartame's reputation. Asda said that it would continue to use the term "no nasties" on its own-label products, but the suit was settled in 2011 with Asda choosing to remove references to aspartame from its packaging. In November 2009, Ajinomoto announced a new brand name for its aspartame sweetener — AminoSweet. A joint venture of DSM and Tosoh ,
4345-461: The development of aspartame as an artificial sweetener . In 1975, prompted by issues regarding Flagyl and Aldactone , an FDA task force team reviewed 25 studies submitted by the manufacturer, including 11 on aspartame. The team reported "serious deficiencies in Searle's operations and practices". The FDA sought to authenticate 15 of the submitted studies against the supporting data. In 1979,
4424-565: The diet soft drink market with Tab , followed up by Pepsi with Patio Diet Cola (shortly renamed to Diet Pepsi ). Coca-Cola added Fresca in 1966. All of the above products were originally sweetened with cyclamates and saccharin , which soon proved disastrous. In 1969, an experiment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that a cyclamate combination caused bladder cancer in laboratory rats, quickly followed up by another from Abbott Labs (a manufacturer of cyclamate). This finding
4503-580: The discovery of saccharin in 1878, the diet beverage era began in earnest with the 1949 launch of La Casera (also known as Gaseosa) in Madrid, Spain using cyclamate . The product, which belongs now to Suntory Beverage and Food Europe (SBFE), is still on the market. This was followed by the development of No-Cal ginger ale in 1952. Hyman and Morris Kirsch of Kirsch Beverages ( Brooklyn, New York ) formulated No-Cal for diabetic and otherwise sugar-restricted hospital patients, also using cyclamate calcium to replace
4582-635: The electrochemical properties of stevia rebaudiana, a herb with potential as a glucose sugar alternative. By using a cyclic voltammetric technique with a nano-sensor modified glassy carbon electrode, the limited safety dose was determined as 0.4 mM (28 mg/mL), where the stevia compound acted as an anti-oxidative sweetener. The study also showed that the electrochemical properties of stevia varied in acidic and alkaline pH, with an oxidative behavior in acidic and an anti-oxidative behavior in alkaline solutions. Initially launched in Argentina in 2013, Coca-Cola Life
4661-453: The general public in 1962. It shortly became the 4th-best selling soda in the US, behind only Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and RC Cola itself. The following year (1963), Dr Pepper released a diet version of its own soft drink, "Dietetic Dr. Pepper" (later renamed to Sugar Free Dr. Pepper, then Diet Dr. Pepper), although it sold slowly due to the misconception that it was meant solely for diabetic consumption. The same year, The Coca-Cola Company joined
4740-443: The ingredients, include the amount of aspartame per serving, and state that the product contains phenylalanine. Phenylalanine is one of the essential amino acids and is required for normal growth and maintenance of life. Concerns about the safety of phenylalanine from aspartame for those without phenylketonuria center largely on hypothetical changes in neurotransmitter levels as well as ratios of neurotransmitters to each other in
4819-465: The last five years", making the business "persistently unprofitable". Because sucralose , unlike aspartame, retains its sweetness after being heated, and has at least twice the shelf life of aspartame, it has become more popular as an ingredient. This, along with differences in marketing and changing consumer preferences, caused aspartame to lose market share to sucralose. In 2004, aspartame traded at about $ 30 per kilogram ($ 14/lb) and sucralose, which
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#17328010312754898-579: The most popular local names for a summer-long "Share a Coke" campaign. The same campaign was used in North America the following summer. For Christmas 2013, Coke Zero launched an interactive website that allowed people to customize the designs of their Christmas sweater , which have a significant role in United Kingdom Christmas traditions. On the website, people could detail the cut, pattern, and icons for their sweater, and join
4977-402: The possible health effects of artificial sweeteners has spurred demand for stevia-based sweeteners and driven manufacturers to seek novel phytochemicals . Aspartame , commonly known by the brand name NutraSweet , is one of the most commonly used artificial sweeteners. The 1982 introduction of aspartame-sweetened Diet Coke accelerated this trend. Today, at least in the United States, "diet"
5056-516: The quantity of aspartame needed to produce the same sweetness is so small that its caloric contribution is negligible. The sweetness of aspartame lasts longer than that of sucrose, so it is often blended with other artificial sweeteners such as acesulfame potassium to produce an overall taste more like that of sugar. Like many other peptides , aspartame may hydrolyze (break down) into its constituent amino acids under conditions of elevated temperature or high pH . This makes aspartame undesirable as
5135-505: The review also suggest that there may be potential undesirable effects from long-term use of NSS, such as an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and mortality in adults." High levels of the naturally occurring essential amino acid phenylalanine are a health hazard to those born with phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare inherited disease that prevents phenylalanine from being properly metabolized. Because aspartame contains phenylalanine, foods containing aspartame sold in
5214-601: The saccharin in Tab with NutraSweet. By 2002, some beverage companies had diversified to include such flavors as vanilla and lemon among their products and diet drinks were soon being produced with those flavors as well (see Diet Vanilla Coke , Diet Pepsi Vanilla ). By 2004, several alcohol companies had released sugar-free or "diet" alcoholic products too. Several different sweeteners are used to replace sugar in low-calorie diet beverages. The primary compounds worldwide are aspartame , saccharin , sucralose , cyclamates (outside
5293-484: The same sweeteners. Many consumers are concerned about possible health effects of sugar substitutes and caffeine overuse . Reviews and dietetic professionals have concluded that moderate use of non-nutritive sweeteners as a safe replacement for sugars can help limit energy intake and assist with managing blood glucose and weight. According to the World Health Organization, aspartame,
5372-623: The sugar. Recognizing Americans' growing desire for weight loss, Kirsch began marketing No-Cal to the general public, particularly to women. By 1953, the drink had become popular in New York City and the surrounding region. Canada Dry followed with Canada Dry Glamor in 1954. In 1958, Royal Crown Cola introduced their own cyclamate and saccharin sweetened dietetic beverage, Diet Rite . Following highly successful trials in Chicago and North Carolina, RC began marketing Diet Rite nationwide for
5451-465: The taste is good enough to drink even when not trying to lose weight. (This idea was first floated by Diet Coke in 1984, with the tagline, "Just For the Taste of It.") In 2005, The Coca-Cola Company announced it would produce a sucralose-containing formulation of Diet Coke known as Diet Coke with Splenda , but that it would continue to produce the aspartame version as well. There were also rumors that
5530-413: The taste is not better, merely different, or note that the long-term health risks of all or certain artificial sweeteners is unclear. The widespread, though not universal, agreement that the newest formulations taste much more "normal" (sugar-like) than the older diet soft drinks have prompted some producers, such as Jones Soda , to abandon the "diet" label entirely in favor of "sugar-free", implying that
5609-439: The theme, a Coca-Cola Zero ad aired during Super Bowl XLIII parodied Coke's iconic " Hey Kid, Catch! " commercial, which is interrupted by two Coca-Cola "brand managers" accusing Troy Polamalu of "stealing" their commercial. In Australia, the product's launch was promoted by a fake front group ; the campaign included outdoor graffiti and online spamming that mentioned a fake blog . Once exposed, consumer advocates assailed
5688-466: The top of the label with the text "zero sugar". After the 2021 reformulation, the red disc was removed and the logo was changed to black text on a red background, the color of the background changing for certain flavors. All versions of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar sold in various countries are based on the same flavoring formula, and all are carbonated. One liter of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar contains 96 mg caffeine. Additionally, artificial sweeteners are used. In
5767-443: Was discovered in 1965 by James M. Schlatter, a chemist working for G.D. Searle & Company . Schlatter had synthesized aspartame as an intermediate step in generating a tetrapeptide of the hormone gastrin , for use in assessing an anti- ulcer drug candidate. He discovered its sweet taste when he licked his finger, which had become contaminated with aspartame, to lift up a piece of paper. Torunn Atteraas Garin participated in
5846-424: Was "limited evidence" for aspartame causing cancer in humans, classifying the sweetener as Group 2B (possibly carcinogenic). The lead investigator of the IARC report stated that the classification "shouldn't really be taken as a direct statement that indicates that there is a known cancer hazard from consuming aspartame. This is really more of a call to the research community to try to better clarify and understand
5925-552: Was Coca-Cola's largest product launch in 22 years. The new product was ideated at the Spanish branch, turning Marcos de Quinto into one of the key people of the company. The global campaign was developed by creative agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky . It was marketed as having a taste that is indistinguishable from standard Coca-Cola , as opposed to Diet Coke , which has a different flavor profile. In 2017, despite increasing sales in
6004-527: Was confirmed that the original formula would continue to be sold under the original Coke Zero branding in New Zealand alongside the Coke Zero Sugar product. The original Coke Zero branding was finally phased out in 2022 alongside the local launch of the 2021 reformulation. In July 2021, the Coca-Cola Company announced that another reformulation of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar would be released throughout
6083-530: Was quickly accepted in the medical field and by the public as evidence that cyclamate was carcinogenic in humans. Per the Delaney amendment , the FDA immediately announced a ban on cyclamate in food and drink products, to take effect in 1970. Diet sodas were quickly reformulated with saccharin alone (in the hopes that consumers would tolerate the metallic aftertaste), but the market share of diet sodas rapidly fell from 20% to 3% overall. After further studies in
6162-480: Was revoked in 1980. Aspartame is one of the most studied food additives in the human food supply. Reviews by over 100 governmental regulatory bodies found the ingredient safe for consumption at the normal acceptable daily intake limit. Aspartame is about 180 to 200 times sweeter than sucrose (table sugar). Due to this property, even though aspartame produces roughly the same energy per gram when metabolized as sucrose does, 4 kcal (17 kJ),
6241-429: Was the first British supermarket chain to remove all artificial flavourings and colours in its store brand foods. In 2008, Ajinomoto sued Asda, part of Walmart , for a malicious falsehood action concerning its aspartame product when the substance was listed as excluded from the chain's product line, along with other "nasties". In July 2009, a British court ruled in favor of Asda. In June 2010, an appeals court reversed
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