Diet Coke, a ubiquitous beverage in the modern world, often finds itself nestled amongst lunchroom offerings and vending machine selections. It presents an interesting proposition: a soda with zero calories that closely mimics the taste of regular soda. While some detect a slight, almost metallic aftertaste, many readily embrace the trade-off. Despite studies suggesting that diet soda may be just as detrimental to cardiovascular health as its sugary counterpart, it has maintained its image as a "healthy choice" for many consumers. This begs the question: where did the concept of diet soda originate?
The Genesis of Guilt-Free Fizz: From No-Cal to Diet Coke
The creation of the first diet soda wasn't the product of a large corporation, but rather the brainchild of Hyman and Morris Kirsch, who ran the Kirsch Bottling Company. Inspired by the needs of diabetic patients at the Jewish Sanitarium for Chronic Disease (now Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center), they sought to create a sugar-free soda option. In 1952, they launched No-Cal, initially available only in ginger ale flavor. The Kirsch Bottling Company quickly expanded the No-Cal line to include root beer, cola, and black cherry.
However, No-Cal's pioneering status was short-lived. Royal Crown Cola and Dr. Pepper soon entered the diet soda market. Coca-Cola joined the fray in 1963 with Tab, a diet soda that has since been discontinued.
Diet Soda's Reign: A Market Overview
Diet soda has become a significant player in the overall soda market. In the United States, diet soda accounted for over a quarter of the total soda market volume in 2020, with Diet Coke being a major driver of this demand, according to Statista.
Unfortunately, No-Cal did not capitalize on the surge in diet soda popularity. Despite surviving a ban on cyclamate calcium, its primary sweetener, by the Food and Drug Administration in 1969, No-Cal gradually lost market share. The Kirsch Bottling Company was eventually sold and consolidated during the 1980s.
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Beyond Diet Coke: A Journey Through Soda History's Quirky Corners
The history of food and beverages is filled with products that, for one reason or another, failed to capture the hearts (or taste buds) of consumers. While some products achieve iconic status, others fade into obscurity, remembered only for their unusual or controversial nature.
New Coke: The Perils of Tinkering with Tradition
In 1985, Coca-Cola made the bold decision to alter its time-tested formula, expecting widespread approval. Instead, the introduction of New Coke sparked considerable outrage. The sweeter formulation was intended to compete with Pepsi in blind taste tests. While tasters initially favored it in small sips, loyal Coca-Cola drinkers were furious at the disappearance of the original flavor.
Coca-Cola executives underestimated the deep emotional connection consumers had with their beloved soda. The ensuing backlash became a classic case study in marketing missteps. Within just 79 days, the company reversed course, reintroducing Coca-Cola Classic to appease disgruntled fans.
Crystal Pepsi: A Clear Case of Misunderstanding
Crystal Pepsi, launched in the 1990s, was marketed as a caffeine-free alternative to traditional cola, offering a lighter and more refreshing experience. Its memorable Super Bowl commercial featuring Van Halen's "Right Now" perfectly captured the spirit of the decade. Consumers, driven by curiosity, flocked to stores to try the new clear cola.
However, critics found Crystal Pepsi lacking, comparing it unfavorably to Sprite without the characteristic lemon-lime zest. The soda seemed to confuse consumers more than it delighted them. Despite a significant promotional effort, sales dwindled after a couple of years. Crystal Pepsi has since made limited-time nostalgic comebacks, acknowledging its status as a legendary flop.
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Orbitz: An Out-of-This-World Beverage
In 1997, Clearly Canadian introduced Orbitz, a soda that resembled something from a science fiction film. The drink contained small, floating edible spheres suspended in a flavored liquid. The idea was that Orbitz's unique, extraterrestrial appearance would make it an irresistible purchase.
Unfortunately, Orbitz was a syrupy drink with a strange, medicinal flavor that confused consumers. It was discontinued within a few years of its launch, but its bizarre design secured its place in junk-food history. Today, surviving bottles of Orbitz are sought-after collectors' items, often appearing online as novelty gifts.
Pepsi Blue: A Berry-Flavored Blast from the Past
Pepsi aimed to capture the attention of younger consumers with Pepsi Blue, a bright blue soda launched in 2002. Marketed as a berry cola, it embraced the Y2K aesthetic, featuring pop groups and stars like Papa Roach and Britney Spears in its advertisements.
The taste of Pepsi Blue was polarizing. Some described it as similar to artificial raspberry cotton candy, while others likened it to cough syrup. Combined with its vibrant color, the soda felt more like a novelty than a regular beverage. Despite its initial failure, Pepsi Blue's nostalgic appeal has kept it alive in pop culture, leading to a brief revival in 2021.
Jell-O 1-2-3: The Dessert That Made Itself
Jell-O 1-2-3 promised to be a kitchen marvel. The mix transformed into three distinct layers as it chilled: a firm Jell-O gelatin base, a mousse middle, and a creamy topping. Introduced in 1969, its commercials emphasized the unique self-layering feature.
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However, Jell-O 1-2-3 did not impress everyone. Some consumers found it difficult to prepare and criticized its texture and artificial taste. Sales declined, and the product was discontinued in 1996. Despite its shortcomings, Jell-O 1-2-3 is fondly remembered by retro food enthusiasts, with recipes for recreating its layered appearance still circulating online.
Heinz EZ Squirt: Colorful Ketchup for Kids
At the turn of the millennium, Heinz sought to revitalize ketchup by introducing novelty and fun. EZ Squirt bottles came in unconventional colors like Blastin' Green, Funky Purple, and Stellar Blue, with nozzles designed for creating playful designs on plates.
Children loved the novelty of dipping fries in vibrant-colored ketchup, and Heinz sold an impressive 25 million units. However, parents were likely less enthusiastic. After the initial excitement wore off, sales plummeted, and the product was quietly discontinued in 2006. Nevertheless, Heinz EZ Squirt remains a notable example of food marketing that targeted children while alienating adults.
McDonald's Arch Deluxe: A Sophisticated Burger That Missed the Mark
McDonald's, known for its affordability and kid-friendly appeal, ventured into more sophisticated territory with the Arch Deluxe, launched in 1996. The burger featured peppered bacon, lettuce, tomato, and Dijon-mayo on a potato bun.
The problem was that consumers did not typically visit McDonald's for gourmet fare. Children were not impressed, either. While some fans fondly remember the flavor, the Arch Deluxe quickly disappeared from the menu as McDonald's refocused on its core offerings: simple, mass-appeal burgers.
Life Savers Soda: A Candy-Flavored Fizz That Failed to Launch
Candy-flavored soda seemed like a promising idea when Life Savers introduced its line of sodas in the early 1980s. The sodas featured bold packaging and flavors designed to replicate the iconic hard candies. However, the new soda was classified as a drinkable kind of candy that was actually quite undrinkable. Consumers who enjoyed Life Savers as a pocket treat had no interest in drinking them by the ounce. Mentions of Life Savers Soda are now mostly limited to lists of unsuccessful brand extensions.
Colgate Kitchen Entrees: A Culinary Conundrum
Colgate, a brand synonymous with toothpaste, made a perplexing foray into the frozen food market with Colgate Kitchen Entrees. While the exact origin and details of this product line are debated, some sources suggest it may have existed in the 1960s or 1980s. Colgate has denied that the Colgate Beef Lasagna in particular was ever an actual thing. Publications from the 1960s do cite a line of dried chicken and crabmeat entrees sold under the Colgate Kitchen name, with Television Age Magazine reporting in 1966 that the line didn't last long in the market. The idea of a toothpaste brand offering frozen meals was simply too incongruous for consumers to accept.
Lay's Wow! Chips: The Snack That Caused a Stir
Lay's Wow! Chips promised a revolutionary snacking experience with fewer calories, thanks to olestra, a fat substitute that the body cannot absorb. However, the promise was short-lived. Reports soon emerged of unpleasant side effects caused by olestra, ranging from cramps to anal leakage. Late-night comedians seized on the story, and the chips' reputation never recovered. Sales plummeted, and the chips were rebranded before disappearing from stores altogether.
Gerber Singles: Baby Food for Adults
In the 1970s, Gerber attempted to expand its baby food empire by targeting adults with Gerber Singles, a line of single-serving meals in jars. The concept was unsuccessful. Shoppers were repelled by the idea of eating adult-sized baby food, and the jars' unappetizing appearance did not help.
Breakfast Cola: A Jolt of Caffeine for the Morning
What could be more appealing with your morning cereal than a breakfast cola with extra caffeine pitched as an alternative to coffee? As it turns out, pretty much anything. Early advertisements encouraged drinkers to ditch their morning cup of joe for a can of soda instead. But consumers weren't convinced.
McDonald's McDLT: A Burger with a Cool Concept and Clunky Packaging
A burger sold in special packaging that kept the hot side of your burger hot and the cool side, well, cool, sounds like a slam dunk, but the clunky Styrofoam container and lukewarm reception it received killed it. In the 1980s, McDonald's introduced the McDLT, a burger packaged in a two-part Styrofoam container. The sales hook? One half of the bun and the hot beef stayed separate from the other slice of bread, lettuce, tomato, mayo, cheese, pickles, and ketchup. Customers were supposed to assemble it themselves before eating. While the idea made sense in theory, the bulky packaging was arguably both inconvenient and wasteful. By the early 1990s, the McDLT was pulled from menus amid pressure from environmental groups. The Big 'n' Tasty â a similar, pre-composed burger sans Styrofoam packaging â was later released in its place.