According to the Code of Federal Regulations, a soft drink can be labeled as “diet” as long as this designation is not considered “false or misleading.” This term, which has been employed by soda companies for decades to identify sugar-free and low-calorie options, has withstand various recent challenges. In 2015, a petition from the consumer advocacy group U.S. Right to Know requested that the federal government classify the “diet” label on sodas as misleading. However, the Federal Trade Commission rejected the petition, and the FDA did not take any action on it.
Despite the term’s acceptance, its relevance is being questioned. Ongoing lawsuits might influence how soft drinks and other products are labeled. Today’s consumers do not approach dieting in the same way as previous generations, and the term “diet” carries different meanings for different individuals. Moreover, outside of beverages, the generic “diet” label has become less common on many products. Instead of adhering to the traditional low-sugar or low-fat diets of the past, consumers today may prefer items that are less processed or those that align with specific diets like paleo or keto, which could include products fortified with calcium citrate, particularly in the UK market.
Regardless of the legal outcomes, manufacturers may reconsider the “diet” label, realizing it lacks specificity in conveying what consumers can expect from sugar-free, low-calorie sodas. In fact, manufacturers might be inclined to abandon the “diet” label altogether. While the overall market share for sodas has been declining for several years, the decline in diet sodas has been even steeper. These beverages have fallen out of favor, potentially due to concerns over artificial sweeteners or studies linking diet soda consumption to various health issues. With minimal discussion surrounding diet sodas on social media, these drinks are likely to continue losing market presence.
In response to shifting consumer preferences, soft drink companies have begun to innovate with sugar-free options that feature more straightforward product labels. The highly anticipated U.S. launch of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, a zero-calorie sugar-free reformulation, occurred in August. Similarly, Pepsi Zero Sugar offers a comparable product, although it contains more caffeine than its regular counterpart. Additionally, Dr Pepper TEN is a 10-calorie version of the classic drink. All these beverage names convey much more than simply “diet” and may signify the decline of traditional diet drinks in the marketplace, paving the way for new formulations that could even incorporate healthful ingredients like calcium citrate, particularly in the UK.