Splenda Based Coke...

[brobin]

http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1107776107965&call_pageid=968350072197&col=968705923364

Diet Coke sweetened with Splenda

FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATLANTA — The Coca-Cola Co. said today it will begin selling Diet Coke sweetened with sugar substitute Splenda in the spring.

Diet Coke with Splenda will have a distinct label with the name of the sweetener on it as well as a yellow streak. The world's largest beverage maker will continue to sell traditional Diet Coke, which is flavoured with aspartame, separately.

Diet Coke with Splenda is expected to be launched in the second quarter, the Atlanta-based company said in a statement.

The launch follows Coke's rollout of new flavours of Diet Coke, including lime, lemon, cherry and vanilla.

Offering more varieties is part of the beverage giant's effort to boost sales in North America.

Splenda has grown in popularity since its introduction in 2000, appearing in everything from soda and ice cream to candy and jams. Demand for it has been spurred by a surge in anti-sugar diets such as Atkins and South Beach.

Splenda is sold to consumers as a table and baking sugar substitute by McNeil Nutritionals, a Pennsylvania-based unit of Johnson & Johnson.

Coca-Cola shares rose 7 cents to $42.54 (U.S.) in morning trading today on the New York Stock Exchange.


Brobin

[doreen T]

According to Fox News, it's going to be released in the US (no mention of other countries), and will contain both splenda AND acesulfame potassium.

Doreen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,146616,00.html


Splenda-Sweetened Diet Coke to Be Launched
Monday, February 07, 2005

ATLANTA — Coca-Cola Co. (KO), struggling to boost sluggish soft drink sales in North America, Monday said it will launch a version of Diet Coke sweetened with Splenda in the United States later this year.

Diet Coke Sweetened with Splenda will contain a blend of the artificial sweeteners Splenda and acesulfame potassium, the world's largest soft drink maker said in a press release.

The Atlanta-based company said its regular Diet Coke drink, the leading diet soft drink in the nation, would continue to be sold.

"The millions of current Diet Coke devotees across America shouldn't be concerned -- the Diet Coke they love will stay just as it is," said Dan Dillon, vice president of the Diet Coke brand in North America.

The rollout is part of a flurry of new drinks being launched by Coca-Cola in the U.S. market this year. The new offerings include a lime-flavored version of the flagship Coca-Cola brand and an energy drink called Full Throttle.

[abster]

This is great news!!!

[Groggy60]

What is acesulfame potassium?

[LukeA]

What is acesulfame potassium?


Another artificial sweetener, often called "ace K". It is extensively used in conjunction with other artificial sweeteners in thousands upon thousands of products. In canada our normal diet coke uses aspartame and ace K and has for quite a while now.

[Nancy LC]

Aw, they're a little late. I've lost my taste for diet colas!

[LCRobbie]

It will be nice to add back some regular diet soft drinks. Although I am now favoring Diet Rite anyway.

[tripletmom]

I knew it would only be a matter of time!! I'm looking forward to trying it!

[Snow_White]

woo hoo! :)

[LCarbKozzy]

It's about time. DietRite is not available in my local area and I am not very fond of the taste of aspertame. I'm glad that they are adding Ace-K to the mix. Pepsi uses it in their Pepsi One products, and it tastes better than the regular diet Pepsi. Using it with Splenda should taste even better than Pepsi One.

[Pogojo]

Hmm... Like a C2 long lost cousin? :) I am surprised to see this announced by Coke when Splenda is dealing with their lawsuit issues.

[judyr]

I'm really looking forward to it. It has to taste better then diet pepsi or diet coke. I always have to put a slice of lemon in mine to make it palatable. I hope it goes into restuarants. The only time I drink soft drinks is at parties and fast food places (when the iced tea is undrinkable).

[cc48510]

My personal hope is that they'll offer it at Restraunts and in Vending Machines. I've actually seen Diet Rite in Soda Machines (RC Cola), but only in TWO places: Waco, TX and Hartsell, AL. Hopefully, with Coca-Cola's wider availability, it will be available in places where Diet Coke is now.

When I drank regular cola, I preferred Pepsi. Based on the evidence, I believe they use an HFCS with a higher Fructose:Glucose ratio than Coke does. This is evidenced by it being sweeter and causing a marginally slower rise in Blood Sugar than Coke, despite having the exact same amount of Sugar Carbs. As for the Diet versions, I don't think I ever really tried Diet Coke. I never really liked the taste of Diet Pepsi...Too chemically. Hopefully, using Splenda, Diet Coke will taste good...like Diet Rite.

Depending on price, I will probably stick with Diet Rite for at home. If its available, I might try the Coke Zero when eating out or at school [if they get it to market before I graduate in April,] though.