The Soda Aisle
Dave Koch | Saturday, March 20, 2010 at 1:30PM Soda. Pop. Coke. Cola. Soda-pop. Coca-Cola. Whatever you call it colloquially, carbonated sugar water has been part of the American diet since the mid 1800's. Originally sold as health-foods, veritable tonics, a panacea; their benefits have been revealed to be nothing more than snake oil.
I recently perused the soda aisle at a supermarket and was amazed at the variety of soda they stock. Some of the more unusual ones boasted a new type of Diet soda, made with Splenda, so it's better now. Some even touted vitamins and minerals! Rejoice! Finally they put vitamins in my soda!
There may have been 30 different SKU's of Coke products when you count 2-Liters, 12-packs, and mini-cans and multiply by Coke Classic, Diet Coke, Caffeine-Free Coke, Caffeine-Free Diet Coke, Coke with Splenda, Vanilla Coke , Coke with Lime, and Banana Bread Flavored Diet Coke Plus Ginsing, Vitamin D and Coemzyme Q10.
I was tempted to purchase a box of TaB, I was like an archeologist sumbling into an artifact that I thought was destroyed in a great fire. I didn't know Coca-Cola still made the stuff. TaB has an interesting story: It was introduced to the US market in 1963 and was originally sweetened with cyclamate. Congress banned cyclamate in 1969 and instead, saccharin was used.
In 1977, Congress moved to ban sacchrin also, they didn't but all products that contained any had to carry the warning, "Use of this product may be hazardous to your health. This product contains saccharin, which has been determined to cause cancer in laboratory animals." Remember this? It was also present on every diner table in a little plastic boat, on the little pink packet of Sweet-N-Low.
In a twist of sweetener fate, saccharin was banned in Canada in 1977 - so now Sweet-N-Low in Canada is made from cyclamate (banned in the US) and Sweet-N-Low in the US is made from saccharin (which is banned in Canada).
I always thought TaB was the first ever diet soda, but it was not. According to the Wiki, the Kirsch Bottling Company launched a sugar-free Ginger Ale called No-Cal in 1952. The Royal Crown Cola Company "RC Cola" released Diet Rite in 1958. No-Cal fizzled out and died but was resurrected in 2005 by the INOV8 Beverage Company in 2005 with the flavors Cherry Lime, Chocolate, Clementine, and Vanilla Cream.
I enjoy a cold soda now and then over ice. Everything in moderation, I say, even moderation.
Reader Comments (2)
I struggle with a serious addiction to diet coke. I am currently off the stuff, but all it will take is one stressful day and I'll fall off that wagon. I always do! I think they put something in there to get you hooked. It's not the caffeine for me... it some else. Something even more insidious. PS "Banana Bread Flavored Diet Coke Plus Ginsing, Vitamin D and Coemzyme Q10." Is that true?
Mmm Banana Bread Diet Coke Plus Ginsing, Vitamin D, and Coenzyme Q10..., no. That's a figment of my imagination. I do drink a fair amount of soda though, mostly at lunch, and usually with a burrito.