Nicole's Notes

First of all, Coke Zero has both aspartame and acesulfame potassium as sweetening. Mmm. That sounds like it'd do a body good! It is supposed to taste "more like regular Coke", according to a few of the BBQ-attendees who had sampled it. Sound like a beverage made by a man with a medical degree? Does to me.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Diet Coke has coupons for the new Splenda-full formula and #2 in the FAQ next to it states that they will not be changing the regular formula. Halle-freakin'-lujah. The Splenda-ized version and the regular historically-profitable version will be sold side by each parallel. They also point out, not-so-humbly, that Diet Coke is America's #1 diet cola (no mention of the ranking for Canada or elsewhere on the globe).

While spelunking for this information, I encountered another interesting factoid: I know people who have long maintained that fountain Diet Coke tasted different from the stuff in the cans and bottles at the local grocery store. I discovered that these people are not on crack! It's true! According to the Product FAQ the fountain version is sweetened by both aspartame and saccharin, because aspartame can't handle the heat, and the fountain syrup loses the sweetness faster than a bottle or can would. Oooo. Education.

In the same vein, I discovered that international versions of Diet Coke (or Coke Light in some locales) are flavoured with different substances, based on what the company feels will go down well with their target audience in a given country.

Whatever the deal, I still don't like the Splenda version. Tastes like someone put a heaping teaspoon of Equal in my Diet Coke. Ugh.