Artificial sweeteners (sometimes referred to as sugar substitutes) are ingredients used to provide a sweet taste in food and beverages without the calories that come with sugar. These sweeteners can be hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, which means only a small amount is needed to achieve the same level of sweetness.
While sugar in moderation is generally safe, consuming too much sugar can have negative health effects. As more people become mindful of their sugar intake, we’re working to provide options that help reduce sugar consumption without sacrificing taste. As of 2022, 19 of our top 20 brands offer reduced-sugar or zero-sugar versions—or have these options available.
Do We Use Artificial Sweeteners?
Yes! We’re constantly rethinking our recipes to offer you beverages with less sugar and fewer (or even zero) calories. To achieve this, we use a variety of artificial sweeteners and sugar substitutes, including Stevia leaf extract and aspartame. These sweeteners are much sweeter than sugar, so only small amounts are needed to create the same sweetness.
For example, while sugar contains 16 calories per teaspoon, only a tiny amount of aspartame is needed to deliver the same sweet taste.
Which Artificial Sweeteners Does The Coca-Cola Company Use?
We use several different sugar substitutes in our beverages, including:
- Acesulfame potassium
Brand names: Sweet One®, Sunett®
Calories: 0
Sweetness: 200x sweeter than sugar - Aspartame
Brand names: NutraSweet®, Equal®
Calories: 16 calories per teaspoon
Sweetness: 200x sweeter than sugar - Stevia leaf extract
Brand names: Truvia®, PureVia®
Calories: 0 per teaspoon
Sweetness: 200x to 400x sweeter than sugar - Sucralose
Brand name: SPLENDA®
Calories: 0 per teaspoon
Sweetness: 600x sweeter than sugar
Why Does The Coca-Cola Company Use Artificial Sweeteners?
We want to give you great-tasting choices that are lower in calories or have no calories, so you can make decisions that align with your lifestyle and dietary preferences. We also use these sweeteners because they are approved by the FDA and have been rigorously tested in scientific studies to ensure they are safe for consumption.
