Course:FNH200/Assignments/2022/Coca-Cola Diet Coke

Introduction

Coca-Cola is a transnational co-orporation and a world-wide brand name, known for centuries for its most famous drink 'Coke'. However, Coca-Cola has come under the scrunity of concious consumers and nutritionists who deem the sugar content of the beverage to be too high. Consequently, the developers have found ways to improve its ingredient list by launching the 'Diet' version to provide a 'sugar-free' alternative. Our team aims to compare two different versions of Diet Coke: the Diet Coke original and the Diet Coke with Splenda.

Pictures of the Products

Image 3: Ingredient & Nutrition facts of Diet Coke

Image 1: Diet Coke

Image 2: Diet Coke with Splenda

Image 4: Ingredients & Nutrition facts of Diet Coke with Splenda

Ingredient lists

Diet Coke (Original)

Ingredients: carbonated water, caramel colour, phosphoric and citric acid, aspartame (contains phenylalanine), flavour, sodium benzoate, caffeine, acesulfame-potassium

Sugar Substitutes:

1. Aspartame, a low-calorie sweetener, is used to replace sucrose, a sweetening agent, so that it can sweeten the drink without adding a lot of calories. Aspartame provides the same amount of calories per gram, but due to its intense sweetness (~180-220 times sweeter than sucrose), a very small amount is required to sweeten food.
2. Acesulfame potassium (Ace-K), a non-caloric sweetener, is added to the drink to provide a synergistic sweetening effect in combination with Aspartame.

Both aspartame and acesulfame-potassium do not increase blood glucose or insulin levels, making the product a good option for individuals on a "diet".

Additives:

1. Caramel colour acts as a colourant, giving Coke its infamous colour.
2. Phosphoric acid prevents the growth of mold or bacteria.
3. Citric acid used to enhance flavour, and boost acidity to preserve the ingredients.
4. Sodium benzoate protects the taste of the drink.

Diet Coke with Splenda

Ingredients: carbonated water, caramel colour, phosphoric acid, natural flavours, pottassium benzoate and sodium phosphate, sucralose, caffeine, acesulfame pottassium, citric acid, tartaric acid.

Sugar Substitutues:

1. Sucralose, marketed as 'Splenda' is an nonutritive sweetener that is 600 times sweeter than sugar. The 'no calorie' effect is achieved by making the sweetener indigestable as an energy source by the body. This is done by selective chlorination of sucrose at three of the primary hydroxyl groups, involving inversion of configuration at carbon-4, from the gluco- to the galactoanalogue. It is very stable at a low pH, so sweetness degredation is not a factor in determining the shelf-life of the products. Unlike other artificial sweetners, sucrulose is made by modifying sucrose itself and does not possess the infamous bitter after-taste.
2. Acesulfame pottassium, Ace-K, is approximately 200 times sweeter than sucrose with almost no calories. It is structurally related to saccharin and has a very good shelf-life. However, it has a bitter aftertaste if used in a high concentration. So, it is usually paired with sweeteners like sucralose/aspartame to give a more sucrose-like taste.

Additives:

1. Caramel colour acts as a colourant, giving Coke its infamous colour.
2. Phosphoric acid prevents the growth of mould or bacteria.
3. Pottassium benzoate and Sodium phosphate protect the taste of the drink.
4. Tartaric acid and Citric acid add to the tartness and slow down bacterial spoilage.

Difference

Firstly, sucralose or 'splenda' is made from real sugar as compared to aspartame. Additionally, since sucralose is sweeter than aspartame, a smaller amount would be required to produce the desired level of sweetness. Moreover, both the drinks contain Ace-K as in addition to their primary sweetener. As for their use of additives, both of the drinks use 'caramel colour' to maintain the red-brown Coke colour, which adds to the nostalgia and familiarity of the drinking experience. In addition, they also use acids to provide tartness and slow down bacterial spoilage. The ingredient lists of both drinks are controlled on most fronts apart from the primary sweetner, so the consumer's choice mainly boils down to their individual taste preference and/or their health concerns and respective inclination. Ultimately, in comparison to the less commonly available Diet Coke with Splenda, the Diet Coke original ranks higher in sales.

Labels

Detailed description of the information found on the labels.

1) (We found these two products on the official website of diet coke-COCA COLA. It shows that both of them are available in Canada, but the diet coke with Splenda is sold out online. So that we could only find a US version online.) By looking the back of cans, we could find detailed description of their information on the labels. It includes a list of ingredients and nutritional facts tables. Besides that, it also shows all the information which is based on the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations.

2) Diet coke with Splenda mentioned about the Caffeine content: 46mg/12 fl oz.

3) In order to emphasize the concept of zero calorie, both products are highlighted with 0 calories.

Indicate whether the information complies with the regulatory requirements as outlined in Lesson 04.

1) Diet Coke(original) fully complies with regulatory requirements.

2) Diet Coke with Spenda does not fully meet regulatory requirements, because its origin is in the United States.

	Diet Coke (Original)	Diet Coke with Splenda
Common Name	Diet Coke	Diet Coke with Splenda
Bilingualism	Both French and English are on the label.	Only contains English label because it is produced from an US manufactuer.
Country of Origin	It is not mandatory for this type of food. This version is produced in Canada.	It is not mandatory for this kind of food. But this version is produced in United States.
Data Marking & Storage Instruction	Best before date is on the bottom of can. There is no storage instructions.	Best before date is on the bottom of can. There isn't a real product in this assignment. There is no storage instructions.
Name &Priciple Place of Business	It shows "COCA-COLA LTD, TORONTO, ONTARIO M5A 1L1."	It shows "Canned under authority of the COCA-COLA COMPANY, ATLANTA. GA 30313 BY A MEMBER OF THE COCA-COLA BOTTLERS' ASSOCIATION, ATLANTA, GA 30327".
Legibility & Location	The information on the back of can is clearly and prominently shown and readily discernible to the customers in English and French. All of the information on the product is legible and located together.	The information on the back of can is clearly and prominently shown and readily discernible to the customers in English. All of the information on the product is legible and located together.
Net Quality	355 ml (each can) also hava another version about 330ml (each can)	12 FL OZ, 355 ml (each can)
Nutrition Facts	The Nutrition Facts table is on the back of the can. The table here contains calories, fat/lipides, carbohydrate/glucides, sugar/surces, protein, sodium, potassium. Can be seen in Image 3.	The Nutrition Facts table is on the back of the can. The table here contains calories, total fat, sodium, total carbohydrate, total sugar, incl. 0g added sugars, protein. Can be seen in Image 4.
Irradiation	Product is not irradiated, so it is not on the label.	Product is not irradiated, so it is not on the label.
List of Ingredients and Allergens	List of ingredients can bee seen in Image 3. Products will not cause allergies	List of ingredients can bee seen in Image 4. Products will not cause allergies.
Sweeteners	Aspartame and Acesulfame pottassium are listed in ingredients. They can be seen in Image 3.	Sucralose (splenda) and Acesulfame pottassium are listed in ingredients. They can be seen in Image 4.
Food Additives	Caramel colour, phosphoric acid, citric acid and sodium benzoate are listed in ingradients. They can be seen in Image 3.	Caramel colour,phosphoric acid,pottassium benzoate and sodium phosphate, tartaric acid and Citric acid are listed in ingradients. They can be seen in Image 4.
Claim and Statements	Contains a source of phenylalanine.	Not a significant source of sat fat, trans fat, cholest, fiber, vit D, calcium, iron and potas.