Diet Coke
105770
225437607
2008-07-13T18:16:32Z
190.81.73.39
/* Brand portfolio */
{{Refimprove|date=January 2008}}
{{Infobox Beverage
|name=Diet Coke
|image=[[Image:Dietcokenew.PNG|200px|The current Diet Coke logo was adopted in 2007]]
|type=[[Diet soda|Diet]] [[Cola]]
|manufacturer=[[The Coca-Cola Company]]
|origin=[[United States]]
|introduced=1982
|related= [[Coca-Cola]]<br>[[Coca-Cola C2]]<br>[[Coca-Cola Zero]]<br>[[TaB]]
|variants= [[Diet Coke Caffeine-Free]] , Diet Coke with Lemon, [[Coca-Cola with Lime|Diet Coke with Lime]], [[Raspberry Coke|Diet Raspberry Coke]], [[Coca-Cola Black Cherry Vanilla|Diet Black Cherry Vanilla Coke]], [[Diet Coke Sweetened with Splenda]], [[Diet Coke Plus]]
|also known as= Coca-Cola Light (outside the United States and Canada)
}}
'''Diet Coke''', formally known as '''Diet Coca-Cola''' (also known as '''Coca-Cola Light''' or '''Coke Light'''; known as '''No-Calorie Coca-Cola''' in [[Japan]]; known as '''Sifr Kalorièe Coke''' in the [[Middle East]]) is a [[sugar]]-free [[soft drink]] produced and distributed by [[The Coca-Cola Company]]. It was introduced in the [[United States]] on [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]], 1982 as the first new brand since 1886 to use the [[Coca-Cola]] trademark. The product quickly overtook [[Tab (soft drink)|Tab]] in sales.
Diet Coke was sweetened with [[aspartame]] after the sweetener became available in the [[U.S.]] in 1983; however, to save money, this was originally in a blend with [[saccharin]]. After [[Diet Rite]] cola advertised its 100 percent use of aspartame, and the manufacturer of [[NutraSweet]] (then, [[Searle (company)|G.D. Searle & Company]]) warned that the NutraSweet trademark would not be made available to a blend of sweeteners, Coca-Cola switched the formula to 100 percent NutraSweet, later switching back and doing without the NutraSweet trademark. Diet Coke from fountain dispensers still contains some saccharin (to extend shelf life).<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/03/03/suit_alleges_deceit_in_fountain_diet_cola_drinks/] Suit Alleges Deceit in Fountain Diet Cola Drinks</ref>
[[Image:Coca-Cola light logo.png|thumb|left|Coca-Cola light logo]]
In other countries, where [[cyclamates]] are not banned (as they were in the U.S. and the [[United Kingdom]] in 1970), Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Light may be sweetened with a blend containing [[cyclamates]], [[aspartame]], and [[acesulfame potassium]], which may account for the noticeably different taste of Coca-Cola Light, compared to Diet Coke.
In 2005, under pressure from retailer Wal-Mart (which was impressed with the popularity of Splenda sweetener), the company released a new formulation called "Diet Coke sweetened with Splenda." [[Sucralose]] and [[acesulfame potassium]] replace aspartame in this version. Early sales were weaker than anticipated; however, Coca-Cola did little advertising for the brand, investing money and advertising in [[Coca-Cola Zero]] instead.
Diet Coke does not use a modified form of the Coca-Cola recipe, but instead an entirely different formula. The controversial [[New Coke]], introduced in 1985 (almost three years after Diet Coke's introduction), used a version of the Diet Coke recipe that contained [[high fructose corn syrup]] and had a slightly different balance of ingredients. In 2004, Coca-Cola introduced [[Coca-Cola C2]], which it claims tastes much closer to Coca-Cola but contains half the [[carbohydrates]]. In 2005, the company introduced [[Coca-Cola Zero]], a sugar-free variation of regular [[Coca-Cola]].
When [[Tab (soft drink)|Tab]] was released in 1963, the [[Coca-Cola Company]] refused to release a diet soda with the Coca-Cola name, fearing that its flagship brand might suffer. Its rival [[Pepsi]] had no such qualms, and after the long-term success of its sugar-free [[Diet Pepsi]] (launched in 1964) became clear, Coca-Cola decided to launch a competing sugar-free brand under the Coca-Cola name, which could be marketed more extensively than the more anonymous Tab.
Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi have capitalized on the markets of people who require low sugar regimens, such as [[diabetes mellitus|diabetics]], athletes, and people concerned with calorie intake. In the UK, a 330 ml can of Diet Coke contains around 1.3 calories (5 kilojoules) compared to 142 calories (595 kJ) for a regular can of Coca-Cola.
==Brand portfolio==
{| class="wikitable" say cuz6+52*129+
|-
! Name !! Launched !! Discontinued !! Notes !! Picture
|-
| Diet Coke
| align="center"| 1982
|
| The first version of [[Coca-Cola]] without [[sugar]].
|[[Image:Diet Coke can US 1982.jpg|55px]]
|-
|[[Diet Coke Caffeine-Free]]
| align="center"| 1983
|
| A [[caffeine]] free version of Diet Coke and the first extension of the Diet Coke formula.
|
|-
| valign="top"|[[Coca-Cola Cherry|Diet Cherry Coke/Diet Coke Cherry]]
| align="center" valign="top"| 1988
|
| Available in USA and United Kingdom. <br /> Discontinued in Australia and Israel.
| [[Image:Diet Coke Cherry.JPG|55px]]
|-
| [[Diet Coke with Lemon]]
| align="center"| 2001
| align="center"|
| Still available in [[Austria]], [[Belgium]], [[Brazil]], [[Canada]], [[Chile]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], [[Germany]], [[Hong Kong]], [[The Netherlands]], [[South Africa]], [[Spain]] and [[Israel]]. The version sold in Continental Europe uses the Coca-Cola Light brand and is generally thought to match much better with the lemon flavoring than the Diet Coke formula.
|
|-
| [[Vanilla Coke|Diet Vanilla Coke/Diet Coke Vanilla]]
| align="center"| 2002
| align="center"|
| Still available in [[Hong Kong]], [[New Zealand]] (only 300mL and 600mL), [[Australia]], and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]].
|<!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Lg diet vanilla coke.jpg|55px]] -->
|-
| [[Coca-Cola with Lime|Diet Coke with Lime]]
| align="center"| 2004
| align="center"|
| Available in the [[USA]], [[Ireland]], [[Finland]], [[Sweden]], [[Canada]] and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]].
|
|-
| [[Raspberry Coke|Diet Raspberry Coke]]
| align="center"| June 1, 2005
| align="center"| 2006
| Available in [[New Zealand]], and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
|
|-
| [[Diet Coke Sweetened with Splenda]]
| align="center"| 2005
|
| Available in the [[USA]], and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]].
| [[Image:Diet Coke Sweetened with Splenda.JPG|55px]]
|
|-
| [[Coca-Cola Black Cherry Vanilla|Diet Coke Black Cherry Vanilla]]
| align="center"| 2006
| align="center"| 2007
| available in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]].
|
|-
| [[Coca-Cola Light Sango]]
| align="center" | 2005
|
| Only available in [[Belgium]], [[France]], [[Luxembourg]], and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
|
|-
| [[Diet Coke with Citrus Zest]]
| align="center" | 2007
|
| Available in the [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], and [[United Kingdom]].
|
|-
| [[Diet Coke Plus]]/Coca Cola Light plus
| align="center" | 2007
|
| Available in many European countries and in the [[USA]].
|[[Image:Dietcokeplus.jpg|55px]]
|}
*In the [[United States]] and most English-speaking countries, the soft drink is called '''Diet Coke''' or '''Diet Coca-Cola'''.
*In most of continental [[Europe]], the drink is marketed as '''Coca-Cola Light''', but often referred to as '''Cola''' or '''Cola Light'''. Coca-Cola has tried to discourage the use of these generic terms,{{Fact|date=March 2007}} and commercials refer only to "Coke Light" or "Coca-Cola Light."
*In French-speaking Canada it is called '''Coca-Cola Diète'''.
*In [[Italy]], the name '''Diet Coke''' was used between 1983 and 1991.
*In [[Mexico]], [[Central America|Central]], [[South America]] and most of the [[Caribbean]] it is called '''Coca-Cola Light'''. In Mexico, it was introduced as Diet Coke in 1984, but it was renamed Coca-Cola Light in 1991.
*In [[Brazil]], it is called '''Coca-Cola Baixas Calorias''' (Low-Calorie Coca-Cola).
*In many English-influenced non-English markets e.g. [[Chile]] and [[Israel]], it is called '''Diet Coca-Cola'''. That was also the case in [[Scandinavia]] although the name '''Diet Coke''' was also used until it was changed recently to '''Coca-Cola Light'''.
*In [[Japan]], the soft drink was launched in 1984 as '''Coca-Cola Light''', later in 1999, it was renamed [[Diet Coca-Cola]], and since April 2007 it has been called '''No Calorie Coca-Cola'''.
*In India it is called [[Diet Coca-Cola]]. After much campaigning against Coca-Cola in India, Coca-Cola still sells well in Chennai and other cities.
==Advertising slogans for U.S.A.==
[[Image:Dietcokenew.PNG|right|thumb|200px|The current Diet Coke logo was adopted in 2007]]
* "The time is right" (1982) The band [[Devo]] served as spokespersons for just 1982
* "Just for the taste of it!" (1983)
* "The one of a kind" (1984)
* "Just for the taste of it!" (1985)
* "Taste it all!" (1993)
* "This Is Refreshment" (1994)
* "Just for the taste of it!" (1995)
* "You are what you drink" (1997)
* "Get the taste of it" (2000)
* "Live Your Life" (2001)
* "Do what feels good" (2002)
* "It's a Diet Coke thing" (2004)
* "Life is how you take it" (2005)
* "Light it up!" (2006)
* "Yours" (2007)
* "Enjoyment" (2007)
* "What life should be like." (2008)
==Debate over health issues==
{{wikinewspar|Fizzy drinks out of New Zealand schools from 2009}}
The most commonly distributed version of Diet Coke (and majority of beverages using artificial sweeteners) relies on [[Aspartame controversy|Aspartame]], which has been blamed by some scientists and medical professionals for possibly causing serious illnesses (such as cancer, brain tumors, brain lesions, and lymphoma) when consumed in large quantities<ref>[http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/07/28/health/webmd/main712605.shtml Study Links Aspartame To Cancer, Lymphoma, Leukemia In Rats Fed Sweetener; Some Dispute Results - CBS News<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>http://www.ehponline.org/members/2005/8711/8711.pdf</ref>. One of the chemicals produced by aspartame after ingestion is [[methanol]].<ref>[http://home.howstuffworks.com/question536.htm Howstuffworks "Will aspartame make me go blind?"<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0804226.html</ref>
It should be noted that Coca-Cola has now released Diet Coke sweetened with [[sucralose]] (also known as Splenda), although it is not as common. See also [[Soft drink#Controversy|soft drink controversy]].
Also, the sodium benzoate was found to break down mitochondrial DNA in living yeast cells.<ref>[http://news.independent.co.uk/health/article2586652.ece Caution: Some soft drinks may seriously harm your health] from ''[[The Independent]]''</ref>
==Ingredients==
The ingredients in Diet Coke are listed in order of greatest to least amount:
* [[Carbonated Water]]
* [[Caramel]] [[Food coloring|Color]]
* [[Aspartame]]
* [[Phosphoric Acid]]
* [[Potassium Benzoate]] (to protect taste)
* [[Flavor|Natural Flavors]]
* [[Citric Acid]]
* [[Caffeine]]
==See also==
[[Image:Diet Coke Mentos.jpg|thumb|right|200px|A Diet Coke geyser during a [[Diet Coke and Mentos eruption]]]]
* [[Diet Coke and Mentos Eruption]] - It is possible to cause a sudden high-pressure release of carbon dioxide by inserting multiple [[Mentos]] into a container of Diet Coke. The ''[[MythBusters]]'' found this is caused because of [[nucleation]] as well as certain catalysts in the Diet Coke and Mentos themselves. The phenomenon is described in some detail by the General Chemistry Online! FAQ, which also attributes it to nucleation.<ref>[http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/consumer/faq/mentos.shtml] Why Do Mentos Mints Foam When You Drop Them into Soda Pop? </ref>
* [[Dolce & Gabbana (drink)|Dolce & Gabbana]] - A non-alcoholic drink made with Diet Coke and [[Grenadine]] which tastes like [[Cherry Coke]] but has fewer calories.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.dietcoke.com/ Diet Coke official website]
{{Cc brands}}
[[Category:Diet sodas]]
[[Category:Coca-Cola]]
[[Category:Cola]]
[[Category:Coca-Cola brands]]
[[Category:1982 introductions]]
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