FOOD NEWS
What's The Difference Between Coke Zero And Diet Coke?
By Clement Obropta
Diet Coke premiered in 1982, sweetened with non-caloric saccharin instead of sugar, while Coke Zero was introduced in 2005 as an alternative to Coke which has the same taste but none of the sugar. Both Zero and Diet boast zero calories, so what's the difference between them?
Coke Zero and Diet Coke have slightly different ingredients; while both contain 40 mg of sodium, Zero also offers 60 mg of potassium. Also, Diet Coke is made with citric acid, while Coke Zero contains potassium citrate and acesulfame potassium, which means Diet Coke is more bitter, while Zero tastes more like regular Coca-Cola.
The most striking difference has to do with marketing. Diet Coke is part of the stalwart diet culture, which tends to target women more than men. The word “diet” was specifically left off of Coke Zero, as the marketing team thought that would better appeal to men.