Behind the Label: Diet Coke
Far from being the healthy drink implied by its sports sponsorships, Diet Coke is a worrying cocktail of neurotoxic and potentially carcinogenic chemicals. By Pat Thomas
Diet Coke was first introduced in the US in July 1982 and today it is the fourth most commonly consumed carbonated beverage in the world.
Apart from being the beverage of choice for sugar-phobic individuals the world over, Coca-Cola is one of the longest standing ‘corporate partners’ (since 1974) of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
In 1998 the company signed an unprecedented eight-year agreement to sponsor FIFA events – not just the prestigious World Cup, but also the Women’s World Cup, the Confederation Cup, various youth championships and the upcoming World Cup Trophy Trip, a roadshow that will take the FIFA World Cup Trophy on tour to cities throughout the world.
Last year Coca-Cola extended its FIFA sponsorship commitment until 2022, a move that prompted the preposterous statement by company Chairman and CEO, E. Neville Isdell, that Coke’s recommitment to the
world’s most popular sport ‘affords us a new opportunity to bring people closer together through football’.
It also helps them shift a lot of cans and bottles. A recent study by marketing information company ACNeilsen revealed that the Coca-Cola brand is the global leader among beverages, generating well over $15 billion in sales globally each year. Coke and Diet Coke each generate more than a billion dollars in sales yearly.
Five countries – the US, the UK, Germany, Canada and Brazil – guzzle more of this supposedly healthy, sugar-free alternative to regular Coke than anywhere else in the world.
Aggressive marketing like the FIFA sponsorship and clever jingles like ‘Always Coca-Cola’ keep Coke in our consciousness, but before you ‘grab a Coke and a smile’ at this year’s main event, consider just what you are putting into your body.
Although Diet Coke has a strong association with sport and health, it is actually a worrying mixture of neurotoxic and potentially carcinogenic high intensity sweeteners (aspartame and acesulfame K), tooth and bone destroying acids (phosphoric acid) and DNA damaging colourings (sulphite ammonia caramel), as well as psychoaddictive caffeine and other undisclosed ‘fl avourings’.
It also contains sodium benzoate, which can be broken down into the listed carcinogen benzene in the presence of strong acids, such as the citric acid found in this product.
Soda manufacturers have been aware of this synergistic possibility since the 1990s, but without pressure from regulatory authorities to change their formula to prevent the formation of benzene, have continued to mix benzoates and acids.
Ironically, the high fructose syrups used in regular drinks seem to slow this reaction down, and the formation of benzene appears to be most problematic in diet drinks.
Ingredients
Carbonated water, colour (caramel, E150d), sweeteners (Aspartame, Acesulfame K) Flavourings including caffeine, phosphoric acid, citric acid, preservative (E211, Sodium Benzoate).
Aspartame
Purpose: Sweetener
Adverse effects
Breaks down easily in heat and during storage to its neurotoxic components phenylalanine, aspartic acid and methyl alcohol. According to the FDA aspartame is associated with headaches, dizziness, loss of balance, mood swings, nausea, memory loss, muscle weakness, blurred vision, fatigue, weakness, skin rashes, joint and musculoskeletal pain. (For a full report on aspartame toxicity see the Ecologist September 2005). The most recent evidence shows that aspartame ingested at levels that are currently found in daily soft drink consumption raises the risk of otherwise rare brain tumours known as lymphomas.
Acesulfame K
Purpose: Sweetener
Adverse effects
Causes cancer in animals. Acetoacetamide, a breakdown product, has been shown to affect the thyroid gland in rats, rabbits, and dogs. Although it is commonly blended with aspartame to cover its bitter taste, there are no studies to show if the combination is safe or whether it produces other toxic by-products.
Phosphoric acid
Purpose: Acidifier
Adverse effects
Can contribute to erosion of tooth enamel; leaches calcium from bones. Children with high intake of phosphoric acid suffer from brittle bones and a higher risk of fractures that follow them throughout life. Children consuming at least six glasses (1.5 litres) of phosphoric acid-containing soft drinks daily have more than five times the risk of developing low blood levels of calcium, compared to children who don’t drink sodas.
Citric acid
Purpose: Preservative, acidifier
Adverse effects
On its own relatively harmless, though it can be harsh on tooth enamel. When mixed with potassium or sodium benzoate (see below) during storage, and especially at raised temperatures, it can aid the formation of carcinogenic benzene.
Caffeine
Purpose: Flavouring
Adverse effects
A stimulant, psychoactive compound that can provoke mood changes, lethargy and headache. Caffeine is addictive and ingestion of high levels can cause miscarriage as well as contribute to peptic ulcers and heart ailments. At the levels added to soft drinks caffeine adds virtually no flavour but does, if consumed regularly, trigger caffeine addiction. Children consuming caffeine have higher incidences of illness, headaches, sleep problems and iron depletion. A 330ml bottle of cola contains about half the caffeine of a cup of coffee.
Sodium Benzoate (E211)
Purpose: Purpose: Preservatives
Adverse effects
People who suffer from asthma, rhinitis or urticaria may find their symptoms get worse following the consumption of benzoates. In acidic solutions (such as sodas), benzoates can break down into benzene, a known carcinogen. Surveys have shown that levels in soft drinks can be up to 40 times higher than recognised ‘safe’ doses.
Sulphite ammonia caramel (E150d)
Purpose: Colouring
Adverse effects
Made by heating sugar, ammonia and sulphite-containing compounds, the sugar can sometimes come from GM maize. Ammonia is toxic by all routes of exposure, and caramels made by an ammonia process may damage genes, slow down growth, cause enlargement of the intestines and kidneys and may destroy vitamin B. This colouring has never been fully evaluated for its potential carcinogenicity or reproductive toxicity.
NOTE: Space restrictions prohibit full referencing, however, Behind the Label draws on data from published studies and reports in medical, scientific and trade journals, government-sponsored databases (e.g. the US National Library of Medicine) and relevant Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS).
Sidebar: A diet coke by any other name
You may need to check the ingredients label carefully when you buy a sugar-free Coke. Over the years, there have been several variations of the Diet Coke recipe utilising various flavourings, such as vanilla, lemon, lime and cherry, as well as a whole range of artificial sweeteners.
Names and formulations change according to local labelling laws and consumer preferences. What we drink as Diet Coke in the UK, for example, is known as Coca-Cola Zero elsewhere. And in 46 of the 149 countries where Diet Coke is sold and where the word ‘diet’ has undesirable connotations, it is known as Coca-Cola Light.
- This article first appeared in the June 2006 edition of the Ecologist
