Diet Sierra Mist was a lemon-lime flavored soft drink option within the Sierra Mist product line, known for being a zero-calorie beverage. Understanding its ingredients is crucial for consumers, especially those mindful of their health and dietary choices. While Diet Sierra Mist is no longer available, having been replaced by Starry in early 2023, examining its formulation provides insight into the composition of diet sodas in general.
Key Ingredients and Their Roles
The ingredients in Diet Sierra Mist, like many diet sodas, included a combination of water, sweeteners, flavorings, and preservatives. Here's a breakdown of some key components:
Carbonated Water: This forms the base of the soda, providing the characteristic fizz and effervescence. Sparkling drinks contain carbonic acid.
Non-Nutritive Sweeteners: To achieve a sweet taste without the calories of sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, Diet Sierra Mist used artificial sweeteners.
- Acesulfame Potassium: Acesulfame potassium (also known as acesulfame K or Ace K) is a calorie-free sugar substitute often marketed under the trade names Sunett and Sweet One. In the European Union, it is known under the E number (additive code) E950. In chemical structure, acesulfame potassium is the potassium salt of 6-methyl-1‚2,3-oxathiazine-4-3H--one 2‚2-dioxide. It was discovered accidentally in 1967 by German chemist Karl Clauss at Hoechst AG (now Nutrinova). The safety of acesulfame potassium remains controversial.
Citric Acid: Used for tartness and as a preservative. Acidic foods and beverages such as fruit juice (citric acid) may be preserved with potassium benzoate.
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Natural Flavors: These provide the distinctive lemon-lime taste of Sierra Mist. Sierra Mist was a lemon-lime flavored soft drink line introduced by PepsiCo in 1999. Lemon-lime soda with lemon and lime flavors. Lemon-lime flavored soft drink made with natural lemon and lime flavors, real sugar and other natural ingredients.
Potassium Benzoate: Potassium benzoate -E212-, the potassium salt of benzoic acid, is a food preservative that inhibits the growth of mold, yeast and some bacteria. It works best in low-pH products, below 4.5, where it exists as benzoic acid. Acidic foods and beverages such as fruit juice -citric acid-, sparkling drinks -carbonic acid-, soft drinks -phosphoric acid-, pickles -vinegar-, and frogurt toppings may be preserved with potassium benzoate.
Sweeteners and Health Considerations
Diet sodas utilize non-nutritive sweeteners to provide sweetness without adding calories. The use of these sweeteners has been a topic of ongoing debate.
It is important to note that non-nutritive sweeteners may not confer any long-term benefit in reducing body fat in adults or children.
Sodium Content
Diet Sierra Mist was labeled as a very low sodium beverage, containing 35 mg or less per 240 ml (8 fl oz).
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Sierra Mist: A History
Sierra Mist was a lemon-lime flavored soft drink line introduced by PepsiCo in 1999. By 2003, it was available in all US markets. The name is a play on Mountain Dew: sierra is the Spanish word for "mountain range" and both mist and dew are composed of water droplets. The drink was rebranded as "Mist Twst" in 2016, but reverted to "Sierra Mist" in 2018. In early 2023, Sierra Mist was replaced by Starry.
From 2000 until 2006, Sierra Mist was sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup and sugar. From 2006 until 2010, it was sweetened with only high-fructose corn syrup. In August 2010 PepsiCo replaced the original Sierra Mist formula with Sierra Mist Natural, which was sweetened with sucrose (table sugar) instead of high fructose corn syrup. In July 2018, Mist Twst's name reverted to Sierra Mist.
Sierra Mist Flavors
- Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash: Cranberry flavored Sierra Mist made with natural flavor and real sugar. Cranberry Splash was only widely available during the winter holiday season. In some places such as North Carolina, this variant was available year-round.
- Sierra Mist Free Cranberry Splash: A zero-calorie version of Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash made with natural flavors.
- Sierra Mist Lemon Squeeze: Sierra Mist Lemon Squeeze was introduced in May 2007.
- Sierra Mist Undercover Orange: Limited-edition orange flavored Sierra Mist released in conjunction with the film Get Smart.
- Sierra Mist Ruby Splash / Diet Sierra Mist Ruby Splash: A zero-calorie Sierra Mist with ruby grapefruit flavors.
Read also: Weight Loss with Low-FODMAP