A new way to get your vitamins: Diet coke

by Martha Edwards (Subscribe to Martha Edwards's posts)
Dec 10th 2006 8:09PM

Categories: Celebs & Entertainment, Reviews & Products

I never imagined that there would come a day when Diet Coke would be good for you. But that day might come after all, according to this. Coca Cola reps have neither confirmed nor denied the claim, and it's not clear what type of vitamins would go in to the new and improved coke. I've never been a fan of coke, or any pop for that matter, and this move wouldn't change that because if you ask me, nothing is healthier or more refreshing than a glass of water and a serving of fresh fruit. And I'm not sure how to interpret this move -- is it a step in the right direction, or a ploy to make people think they are making a healthy choice by consuming a chemical-infused soft drink that might not be any healthier for them in the long run? What do you think?

Anyway, the fortified Diet Coke should hit shelves in 2007.

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Comments (109)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)

Diane 12-11-2006 @ 9:41AM

Making people think that any kind of soda is good for them, should be against the law. I don't care if there are vitamins in a particular soda. Soda is NOT good for you, even diet soda. I DO drink diet coke, and I know it really is not good for me, but I don't over do it like ALOT of people do. I drink about one a day. The FDA should worry more about our health, instead of how to make us buy more of this or that.

Kacee 12-13-2006 @ 3:37PM

I think it's absolutely a ploy! The market is shifting toward healthier food, take the trans fat ban in NYC for example, and consumers are looking for easy ways to improve their health. Coca Cola knows that their product is not good for you, and they don't want to be left behind. They have to do something to convince uneducated consumers that carbonated liquid sugar is a health food.

TomB 12-14-2006 @ 2:08PM

Next they'll be adding vitamins to french fries and and double cheeseburgers.

Just take a multivitamin once a day and lay off the pop.

Janet 12-14-2006 @ 2:18PM

I love Diet Coke. It's my coffee and I am thrilled to know that a vitamin-enriched version will be out in 2007.

Belinda 12-14-2006 @ 2:24PM

I smell a law suit coming on. Remember the tobacco industry? Sheesh are these people nuts?

DUH! 12-14-2006 @ 3:29PM

I think ANYONE who spouts off at the mouth about THIS being bad for you and THAT being GOOD for you should FIRST Learn how to freakin' SPELL for pete's sake.For your IGNORANCE is spoken LOUDER than your words!!

J delaney 12-14-2006 @ 11:47PM

Corporate america at it's best!

Nate 12-14-2006 @ 2:23PM

If Coke truly wants to make a "healthier" soda, they should start first by removing their cancer causing nutrasweet and other added chemicals. I feel there is no healthy soda, per se, but it could be much better for you if they used stevia, xylitol or other natural alternative to sugar. If you must have sugar, how about using all natural cane sugar, and not in copius amounts an in regular soda. Botton line, if they made this wonderful drink I just suggested, Americans would prolly not buy it.

Suzy Ramos 12-14-2006 @ 2:27PM

That's ok - FYI several years ago, one of the liquor companies started to add vitamins to its hard liquor.

Paula 12-14-2006 @ 2:41PM

Well, I guess it IS astep in the tight direction. People are GOING to drink the stuff, so maybe they can consume a few vitamins along with it. But yes, it is a marketing ploy, of course. Everything they do is, isn't it?

YOUMEMBER 12-14-2006 @ 2:49PM

IT JUST MAKES ME SICK THAT SO MANY PEOPLE ARE BRAIN WASHED ABOUT DRINKING SODA WATERS.SODAS ARE NOT REALLY THAT BAD FOR YOU THINK ABOUT IT. THE PEOPLE FROM MEXICO HAVE BEEN DRINKING COKES THAT ARE A LOT STRONGER THAN AMERICAN COKES,AND THESE PEOPLE STARTED WHEN THEY WERE KIDS AND LIVE TO BE IN THERE 90'S.YOU ARE DYING FROM OTHER THINGS THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOESNT WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT. REMEMBER IF EVERYBODY LIVED UNTILL THEY WHERE A 100 YEARS OLD THERE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED EVERYBODY.

StaceyD 12-14-2006 @ 3:08PM

I think it's a great idea!! People are drinking it anyway, so they might as well add some nutritional value to it. It's not going to make people who don't already drink it suddenly want to drink it, and it's not going to make people who only drink it sometimes choose to drink more of it. All it will do is improve the product for the people who are already drinking it. Considering how many people treat soda like a food group, it's a really great way to get some vitamins into their diets that they otherwise wouldn't be getting.

I think it's ridiculous to pretend that people who choose to drink soda somehow don't know bad it is for them. They know. They choose to drink it anyway. Are there much better choices out there? Of course there are, but that doesn't stop people from drinking it, so why not sneak a little bit of health in for them through the backdoor? It sure beats letting them continue drinking it the way it is - with absolutely no nutritional value.

Bobby 12-14-2006 @ 2:54PM

It seems people are looking at it from the wrong view. Yes soda of any kind is not a healthy choice but the fact is you cant change or make decisions for people and if people make an unhealthy decision to drink or eat unhealthy products as least companies are trying to make those product less unhealthier. There is no way a company is going to stop making or selling prducts that make money and they dont even need to change there product so to see Coke is trying to make there sodas heathier in any way should be a good thing becuase thats a first step to making a healthier world. Because if one big company tries to go healthier and it works everyone else is going to try and jump on the bandwagon. I rather hear in the future that my grandkids are drinking a pure juice soda then for them to be drinking sodas that I grew up with filled with pure sugars, Food Coloring, Acids and so on. So you have to applaude change in the right directions not bash it becuase it is still an unhealthy product

Barb 12-14-2006 @ 3:30PM

I am highly allergic to Aspartame, the ingredient that makes diet soft drinks DIET. I know that I am only one of 2% of the total population who is allergic to it, so I guess I don't matter to anyone. Sniff.

Now, if Coke quit putting Aspartame into their diet soft drinks, I would really call that a miracle! Everyone who sells diet this or diet that thinks Aspartame is REQUIRED! I sure don't!!! I'm diabetic and can't drink regular soft drinks because of that. Now I can't drink diet soft drinks just because everyone puts Aspartame in them. Booooo!

ed 12-14-2006 @ 3:02PM

I think its a good idea. The health police need to take it easy. Whats unhealthy about drinking a quality product that brings you a little enjoyment. If you can get some vitamins from it, all the better. In this world i can name a million things that can kill you faster than Diet Coke, lets all focus on the important things. So, have a Coke and a smile and lets focus on real dangers to your health.

AB 12-14-2006 @ 3:17PM

Um. Maybe we should make vitamin enriched marijuana, cocaine, and heroin. But, don't forget the meth, because that's were the real money is.

Basically most of everything sold in stores is vitamin enriched. Adding vitamins to food does not make it healthier. When is the last time there was a public outbreak of anything related to a vitamin deficiency?

moira 12-14-2006 @ 3:19PM

dispicable.

Jessie 12-14-2006 @ 3:20PM

This whole "new" diet coke thing, is just a gimmick. Any carbonated drink can say it has vitamins and all the things you need in it, but chances are, they are lieing. Soda is not a good thing for anyone to consume. It weakens your bones and the enamel on your teeth. The fact that the Coca Cola company thinks they can keep up with the health food fad by saying they are putting vitamins in their "famous" soft drink, is just plain retarded.

Becky 12-14-2006 @ 3:20PM

I drink about 3-4 cans of pop a day.. and you know what I think its amazing they are putting vitamins in the pop......if Im going to be drinking it anyways why not ?!

Wellness 12-14-2006 @ 3:31PM

Until they take out the artificial sweetner, it's not going to be one bit healthier. Educate yourselves people!

http://www.mercola.com/2005/jun/30/diet_sodas.htm