Diet Coke, also known as Coca-Cola Light, Diet Coca-Cola, or Coca-Cola Light Taste, is a sugar-free and low-calorie diet soda produced and distributed by the Coca-Cola Company. Unveiled on July 8, 1982, it was the first new brand since the Coca-Cola Company's creation in 1886 to use the Coca-Cola trademark. Following its launch, Diet Coke became wildly successful and a cultural status symbol to some.
Recently, Coca-Cola has discontinued certain variations of its popular beverage, leading to consumer reactions and discussions about the reasons behind these decisions. This article explores the discontinuation of Diet Coke with Splenda, the reactions from consumers, and the broader context of Coca-Cola's product strategy.
The End of Diet Coke with Splenda
In response to a query on X (formerly Twitter), Coca-Cola confirmed the discontinuation of Diet Coke with Splenda. This particular version of Diet Coke used sucralose and acesulfame potassium instead of aspartame as sweeteners. The news was met with disappointment from some consumers, with one user even declaring a switch to Pepsi.
Consumer Reactions
The removal of Diet Coke with Splenda has left customers longing in its wake. Some Redditors expressed their sadness, with one saying, "Please tell me I’m not the only one who thought Diet Coke with Splenda was the best soda on the planet! It was so good! I love Diet Coke, but this was even better than regular Diet Coke!" Another commented, “I gained weight when it disappeared! By far the tastiest soda product, with 0 calories & no headache from aspartame." A user agreed, "Sucralose is my preferred artificial sweetener."
However, not all reactions were negative. One Redditor responded with "Bye, Felicia!" upon hearing about the supply drying up.
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Reasons for Discontinuation
Coca-Cola has cited changing consumer tastes and lifestyles as a reason for discontinuing certain products. Coca-Cola Cherry Vanilla was also discontinued due to consumers’ taste preferences and lifestyles constantly changing. This suggests that the company is continuously evaluating its product portfolio to align with market demands.
Coca-Cola Cherry Vanilla
Coca-Cola Cherry Vanilla was first released in February 2020 after generating popularity at Coca-Cola Freestyle machines, which allow consumers to mix different Coca-Cola flavors. The company stated that the decision to discontinue Coca-Cola Cherry Vanilla was due to consumers' evolving taste preferences and lifestyles. Some observers noted that consumers could simply mix the still-available Cherry and Vanilla Cokes to achieve a similar flavor.
Coca-Cola Spiced
There have been rumors about Coca-Cola Spiced potentially being discontinued due to underperformance. While this remains unconfirmed, it highlights the dynamic nature of the beverage market and the challenges companies face in maintaining a successful product lineup.
Diet Coke: A Brief History
Diet Coke was unveiled on July 8, 1982, and became wildly successful and a cultural status symbol to some. When diet colas first entered the market, beginning with No-Cal in 1958, the Coca-Cola Company had a long-standing policy to use the Coca-Cola name only on its flagship cola, and so its diet cola was named Tab when it was released in 1963. After the long-term success of its sugar-free Diet Pepsi (launched in 1964) became clear, Coca-Cola decided to develop a competing sugar-free brand under the Coca-Cola name that could be marketed more easily than Tab.
Market Share and Availability
In the United States, Diet Coke held a market share of 11.7% in 1991, compared to 20.0% for Coca-Cola Classic and 18.4% for Pepsi-Cola. By 1992, the product was available in 117 markets worldwide.
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Diet Coke Sweetened with Splenda
In 2005, under pressure from retailer Walmart, Coca-Cola released "Diet Coke sweetened with Splenda," using sucralose and acesulfame potassium instead of aspartame.
Diet Coke and Cultural Impact
Diet Coke has had a significant cultural impact, including links with healthiness and wellness but also negative connotations in regards to body image. It has achieved high popularity in certain circles with loyal fans, including in popular culture. Victoria Beckham, Dua Lipa and Bill Clinton are known fans of the drink, and Donald Trump notably has a dedicated button for Diet Coke in his presidential office. The drink has been known to be the choice of "it girls", and has been popular in the fashion scene.
Slogans and Advertising Campaigns
Coca-Cola has used various slogans throughout Diet Coke's history to advertize the product, both in the United States and internationally. From 2010 to 2014, "Stay Extraordinary" was the main slogan in use. Coca-Cola launched the "You're on" campaign in 2014. Later that year, "Get a Taste" was introduced, asking the question "what if life tasted this good?". In 2018, Diet Coke launched the "Because I can." slogan and campaign at the same time as a major rebrand and the addition of new flavors.
Ingredients and Variations
The ingredients and taste of Diet Coke have slight variations between different bottling countries. The original variety was sweetened with aspartame, an artificial sweetener that became available in the United States in 1983. Other than sweeteners, Diet Coke differs from Coca-Cola by having a higher amount (approximately 33% more) of caffeine.
Other Diet Coke Varieties
- Diet Coke without the caffeine.
- Diet Coke with a vanilla flavor.
- Diet Coke with a combination of Ginger and Lime flavors.
- Diet Coke with a Mango flavor.
- Diet Coke with a Blood Orange flavor, similar to Coca-Cola Light Sango.
- Diet Coke with a combination of Ginger and Lemon flavors.
Aspartame and Health Concerns
The most commonly distributed version of Diet Coke uses aspartame as a sweetener. As one of the most intensively scrutinized food additives, the safety of aspartame has been studied since its discovery. Aspartame has been deemed safe for human consumption by the regulatory agencies of many countries.
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Safety Assessments and Controversies
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has regulated the use of aspartame since 1974 and approved it as a general-purpose sweetener in 1996. The acceptable daily intake for aspartame established by the FDA is 50 milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight per day. A 12-ounce can of diet soda contains about 200 mg of aspartame, so based on these guidelines, a person weighing about 150 pounds (or 68 kg) could drink around 17 cans of diet soda per day.
However, aspartame is not safe for people with the hereditary disorder PKU, which causes phenylalanine to build up in the body. For this reason, people with PKU have to strictly limit their phenylalanine intake and should always choose diet drinks without aspartame.
Researchers and consumers have worried about a possible link between aspartame and cancer for decades as well. In fact, in July 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) reclassified aspartame as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” based on limited evidence. Even so, the WHO still advises that 40 mg/kg of body weight is a safe amount of aspartame to consume per day. The FDA disagrees that the limited evidence points to human cancer risk, citing research that found no link between low- and no-calorie sweeteners and beverages and increased cancer risk in humans.
More recent studies are mixed in their conclusions, too. A data-mining analysis published in 2025 determined that artificial sweeteners, including aspartame, might potentially increase the incidence of kidney cancer, low-grade glioma, breast cancer, and prostate cancer. The study’s researchers “strongly advise the public to reduce their intake of artificial sweeteners to alleviate common health issues such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome.” Yet another study published in 2025 found no association between aspartame consumption and invasive breast cancer risk.
Potential Health Concerns
Along with the study of aspartame’s potential cancer risks, more research is needed on other potential health concerns of the sugar substitute. In a review of 29 studies, researchers linked aspartame with neurotoxic effects, such as behavioral concerns, mood disorders, and memory and learning impairments. Older research also associated aspartame with behavioral and cognitive problems - such as headaches, irritable mood, depression, and insomnia.
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