Images of American social media influencer Jill Zarin arriving on vacation with a giant suitcase of Diet Coke because “they don’t sell it in Europe” have caused a lot of hilarity online.
@allyshaps Do other diet coke girlfriends travel with a full suitcase of diet coke? Fortunately, he made it safely! #dietcoke #flying #airport ♬ original sound – Ally Shapiro
And of course there were plenty of people ready to prank
I have to tell the truth. *I* am the guy who keeps telling Americans that we have nothing in Europe.
I’m going to have a few glasses of wine, go to Reddit and post something like, “In France, they don’t have text messages. People attach their messages to bricks and throw them at each other. »
—Richy Craven (@RichyCraven) August 21, 2023
But is it true that Diet Coke tastes different in Europe than in the United States? Are there really ingredients in Diet Coke banned by the EU? And what is the difference between Diet Coke and Diet Coke?
Different types of coke
Once we rule out atrocities like Cherry Coke, there are basically three types of Coke – all-sugar Coke, Coke Zero, and Diet Coke.
However, in non-English speaking countries, Diet Coke is usually sold under the Diet Coke brand – as the parent company explains: “In some countries, the term ‘diet’ is not used to describe foods and low-calorie drinks. In these countries, we offer Diet Coke/Coca-Cola. »
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The idea being that “light” is a more internationally recognized word, so Coke doesn’t have to come up with dozens of different translations for “diet” in different European countries.
The two products are interchangeable, although sweetener levels vary from country to country (more on that later).
Coke Zero is also sometimes marked in the local language, for example France sells it as ‘Coca-Cola Without Sugars‘ (Coca-Cola without sugar) but the Coke Zero brand is still on the bottle.
Likewise, the completely sweetened product is sold everywhere as Coca-Cola (although, again, some countries add their own brand – in France, it is Coca-Cola Original Taste – original Coca-Cola flavor).
Coke Zero – launched in 2007 and intended to taste the same as the original but without the sugar – is being phased out of the Diet Coke/Light Coke market and in many countries Diet/Light Coke is not widely available or is only available for import. .
The standard choice at McDonald’s, for example, is Coke or Coke Zero.
However, Diet Coke/Light Coke is not banned in any European country (although many US-based blogs confidently claim that it is).
But does it taste different in the United States?
But while the same brand may be available worldwide, the actual ingredients are different in some countries, which could lead some Coke connoisseurs to notice a difference in taste between products in the US and those in the EU. .
The biggest difference is between regular Coke – in the US it uses high fructose corn syrup, while in Europe cane sugar is used to sweeten the product, resulting in a difference significant taste.
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Some European countries have or are working on restrictions on sugar – for example by increasing taxes on sugary foods or requiring sugary foods or drinks to carry a health warning – but there is no limit to the amount of sugar. sugar that a food or drink may contain.
When looking at sugar-free products, probably the biggest difference is if you expect Diet Coke and get Coke Zero, as they have very different flavors. According to the parent company, both use the same sweeteners — a blend of aspartame and acesulfame-potassium — but Coke Zero “uses a different flavor base and offers the great taste of Coca-Cola without the sugar.”
Despite several studies linking it to an increased risk of cancer, the use of aspartame is not restricted in the EU, although any product containing it must state so on the label.
If you compare the ingredient list between American Diet Coke and Diet Coke sold in Europe, the only difference is the addition of sodium benzoate in the American product. Although this preservative is not banned in Europe, the European Commission imposes a limit on the amount that can be used in food and drink.
The actual recipe for all types of coke is of course a closely guarded secret, but the coke says “sweetness levels are modified according to local preferences”.
Coke is also made in different factories around the world and it has been suggested that differences in the water used to make the local product may also affect the flavor – although frankly if you can detect the difference in water at through the layers of artificial sweeteners and flavors, then you’re clearly a genius and you should start training like sommelier.
Now you want some ice cream in your Coke? Because it’s a whole different USA v Europe story. . .
thelocal
