Coke, Pepsi both introducing low-carb sodas this summer

[Demi]

(Atlanta) April 20, 2004 - On Tuesday the Coca-Cola company announced it will launch a new soft-drink with half the carbohydrates of traditional colas. Coca-Cola C2 will make it's debut on June 16th.

Coke says it will have half the sugar, carbs and calories as its flagship brand. It says C2 will debut in Japan before moving to the US.

The new soda's arrival comes just a few months earlier than PepsiCo's low carb soda, Pepsi Edge, which is expected to be on store shelves by the end of the summer.

Coca-Cola creators say they've been working feverishly to revitalize sluggish soft drink sales in North America and are hoping C2 will jump-start cola consumption again.

http://www.wistv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1800146

[bevbme]

Half sugar???? Probablly Half SUgar alcohols .....YIKES

[Angeline]

What are diet colas then

[Nancy LC]

No, they're actually going to put sugar, or more likely fructose, in them. Stupid idea.

[nowonder]

I hope the FDA steps in to clean this mess up.
At best these are "reduced carb" but by no means "low-carb".

Looks like the cola companies forgot to do thier homework with this product. Sadly it will sell to those who haven't read the books.

--nw

[fridayeyes]

Yeah, I have to wonder about this, too. From my waiting table days, the vast majority of soda drinkers fall into one of two camps: gimme the real thing or diet all the way. I really don't see a market for a half-sugar soda product. Will it simply taste less sweet? Will it have both sugar and artificial sweeteners and thus be the worst of both worlds for some? I agree about sugar alcohols being a bad idea. The runs in a can. At least the color will be about right.

*shrugs* I drink soda less than twice a month now, so I don't really care. It just seems like an odd product since half of 'outrageous' will still be 'too much' for just about every low-carber out there.

Cheers,

Friday

[conbom]

Actually, I don't mind the idea at all so long as it really is half the sweetener PERIOD. I have always thought that sodas were too sweet tasting and, in fact, some of the diet sodas are the worst offenders. I am also not all that enthusiastic about artificial sweeteners. The real problem stems from people who think "Half the carbs means I can drink twice as much!" and they neglect their water intake--been there, done that w/ diet sodas--and get too many carbs anyway!

Connie

[cc48510]

Clover Valley's Regular Cola and Root Beer already mix Sugar (Corn Syrup I believe) and Splenda. They have about 25g of Sugar vs. the 41g in Coke and Pepsi. But, 25g of CS is still too much. Replace the CS with Tagatose, and I might consider it.

[Angeline]

The only positive thing I could see out of this is that it might help people manage their sweet tooth. If you go anywhere outside of the USA, you'll notice that beverages are generally not as sweet. However Americans seem to have this raging need for everything to be overly sweet, from ketchup to soft drinks.

[stephiewil]

I thought it was hilarious when I bought a bottle of Diet Rite soda recently, and right on the front of the label, it says zero carbs. They are all jumping on the band wagon. No diet soda has carbs, but they make it look like thiers is the only one that doesn't.Very funny.
Half the sugar, half baked, I do not think it will go over. I agree with the earlier statement that people are either diet soda drinkers all the way, or regular soda drinkers all the way. It sure cannot be used on a low carb diet and will mess up a bunch of low carb newbies who will then blame the woe for not working. What a shame. Stephie

[kyrasdad]

Just gimmie Diet Coke made with Splenda.

[MyJourney]

I thought it was hilarious when I bought a bottle of Diet Rite soda recently, and right on the front of the label, it says zero carbs. They are all jumping on the band wagon. No diet soda has carbs, but they make it look like thiers is the only one that doesn't.Very funny.

LOL I laugh every time I go to the store and I see these huge tubs of Helmans mayo that has a big Zero Carb Sticker on it.

My supermarket now sells sliced pepperoni and cheese with no crackers and has these low carb stickers on that too.

[Angeline]

My supermarket puts low-carb stickers on meat

[chef]

Just gimmie Diet Coke made with Splenda.

Thats what I am talking about. It is becoming impossible to get Diet Rite in my local Albertsons because they stock it in a tiny section like the rest of the off brands and every low carber that come by raids the entire stock. Surely the cola companies see this trend. Maybe they are just so enslaved to aspertame that they are not willing to switch to the AS that people want in their sodas now.

[ItsTheWooo]

Um, if you are doing the low carb thing, unless you are totally clueless I doubt you'll be subjecting your poor body to the empty calories of high fructose corn syrup sweetened drinks.

If they want to cash in on the LC craze what they need to do is get a liscence to use sucralose.

[cc48510]

Thats what I am talking about. It is becoming impossible to get Diet Rite in my local Albertsons because they stock it in a tiny section like the rest of the off brands and every low carber that come by raids the entire stock. Surely the cola companies see this trend. Maybe they are just so enslaved to aspertame that they are not willing to switch to the AS that people want in their sodas now.

Speaking of that, I went down to Albertsons a few times [a while back] and they were out. I talked to somebody who worked there [I think he was a manager,] and he said that the distributer only leaves them a certain number each time he shows up. He said, that they knew that they sold quickly, but his distributer is only willing to give him a few at a time. I guess they're afraid it won't sell...But, seeing as that they sell out within a day or so of delivery, that a ridiculous belief.

[Vanity3]

What are diet colas then

My point exactly...the last thing I want to do is drink sugar alcohol. I'll just stick to regular diet sodas. Diet Rite is made with Splenda, but I never liked the taste. Thank goodness I'm in pre-maintance so I can have a little more artificial sweeteners. I personally enjoy Diet A&W Rootbeer, it has no caffine!

[lundman]

Well, I have now tried Coke C2. It has a great flavour, that can't be denied. But the only reason why I don't want to drink diet coke is the evil aspartame. C2 is made with both sucralose (splenda) and aspartame, plus it is only low-carb (4.7g/100ml) so it kinda makes it pointless to drink.

Personally I'm waiting for a drink made with just splenda that I can buy locally. Sugar alcohols do evil things to me too.

Lund

[woodpecker]

Artificial sweetners, even sucrolase (splenda) are not without problems. I miss having a coke every once in a while. I'd vote for low carb coke with only sugar alcohols - low calorie and tastes like sugar. Xylitol even prevents tooth decay.

[lundman]

Naturally, the only solution is to have all options available, and we can each pick our own choices. Sugar alcohol makes me gassy instantly, evil. Splenda I've found I can (personally) have with no side effects. But I know others probably feel differently.

Like sugar free gummies/jellies. The sugar alcohol ones I can have 2 or 3, then I swell up with wind. Makes it totally not worth it. But afaik, nobody makes sucralose only jellies.

Lund