<center> https://peopledotcom.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/diet-coke.jpg?w=2000 </center> 
## Coca-Cola recently unveiled their new Diet Coke flavors to the world: <b>*Fiesty Cherry, Zesty Blood Orange, Twisted Mango, and Ginger Lime.*</b> 
Along with the introduction of these new flavors they've also introduced a new look to their cans as well (see image above). 

## Looking For A Sugar Substitute...
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The new marketing strategy of theirs is an attempt to try and turn around <b>declining beverage sales</b>.

<b>Diet Coke</b> is alleged to be the weakest link in the cola product lineup for Coca-Cola. Sales for <b>diet soda</b> have been declining for the last decade, as more consumers turn away from consuming beverages that contain controversial additives and preservatives. 

More people these days are turning to water and <b>functional beverages</b> like energy drinks and sports drinks. *Bottled water sales have been on the rise for the last several years* and that is one of the fastest growing categories in the drink space. 

## People have made it clear, by spending their money elsewhere, that they don't find <b>diet soda</b> to be the healthy beverage option that they are looking for.  

<center>https://media.giphy.com/media/l0HTZXVXjEpGGI0A8/giphy.gif </center> 
Coca-Cola also recently took their horribly performing <b>Coke Zero</b> out of the US market and they've replaced it with what they've called <b>Coke Zero Sugar</b>. The new Coke Zero Sugar is sweetened with the use of <b>aspartame and acesulfame K</b>. 

As well, their new line-up of Diet Coke products are also sweetened with the use of the controversial sweetener <b>acesulfame K</b> (Ace-K), along with the usual aspartame. 

Ace-K is roughly 200x sweeter than sugar and has been approved by the FDA. However, there are some critics who have said that *you should be cautious about this artificial sweetener*, despite the dozens of studies that might look like they <b>support its safety</b>. 

<center> https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/10/11/05/27/cola-2839978_1280.jpg </center>

For now, critics say that it's unknown for certain whether this ingredient is safe or dangerous. Previously, concerns have been raised by the *US Center for Science in the Public Interest*, but the European Food and Safety Authority along with the FDA have disregarded those claims. 

Among the concerns for Ace-K are worries that this artificial sweetener might *promote cancer, liver problems, and disturb the gut microbiome*.  

Despite the current approval from the FDA and the widespread use of this ingredient in the market today, critics still maintain that <b>more research is still needed</b> in order to better understand the potential long-term effects.



Pics:
Coca-Cola Company via People
giphy
Pixabay

*The content above is posted for informational purposes only.*

Source:
http://people.com/food/diet-coke-new-flavors-colorful-cans/
http://www.businessinsider.com/diet-soda-sales-are-falling-2016-6
http://www.businessinsider.com/coke-zero-sugar-trumps-diet-coke-2017-10
http://fortune.com/2015/10/23/diet-coke-sales-plunge/
http://www.businessinsider.com/review-diet-coke-new-flavors-2018-1/#coca-cola-isnt-changing-the-classic-diet-coke-recipe-with-the-new-flavors-however-the-company-hopes-to-manage-the-best-of-both-worlds-avoiding-the-fury-of-loyalists-while-making-some-necessary-changes-to-finally-grow-diet-cokes-sales-and-while-we-dont-expect-zesty-blood-orange-to-catch-on-flavors-like-feisty-cherry-seem-like-a-step-in-the-right-direction-5
http://fortune.com/2018/01/10/diet-coke-relaunch-sweetener-ingredient/
https://www.thedailymeal.com/healthy-eating/diet-coke-new-flavors-controversial-ingredient/011218
http://www.ibtimes.com/what-ace-k-diet-coke-ingredient-200-times-sweeter-sugar-2640141
https://www.thedailymeal.com/drink/chemicals-your-soda-what-they-are-and-what-they-do-slideshow/slide-3
https://goo.gl/mDY81v
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1570055/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20166324


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