FDA Is Not Impressed By Diet Coke Plus
Last month, the FDA sent Coca-Cola a letter warning that their Diet Coke Plus ("it's what plants crave") violates FDA standards for products fortified with vitamins.
The FDA's letter takes issue with the word "plus," which has a standardized meaning and may only be used for certain fortified foods and beverages. Because "plus" is supposed to be used for comparison, e.g., "this Diet Coke Plus has more vitamins and minerals than this fifth of rye," and because Coca-Cola didn't identify a reference product, the "plus" is worthless. Further, the letter notes, "the FDA does not consider it appropriate to fortify snack foods such as carbonated beverages." But, it's got electrolytes!
(Photo: La Mariposa)
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"It's what plants crave" for the win, my friend. Idiocracy, indeed.
They'd better start getting used to people in Atlanta walking up to them telling them they're going to Hell for blasphemy. Coke is a food group around there.
But...It has electrolytes! It's what plants crave!
lolz
Seems obvious to me, diet coke plus has more vitamins than diet coke, which according to the label it does...a bunch of B vitamins which claim to boost energy levels.
I doubt it does anything though...They'd be better off switching off of aspartame, I hear the stuff causes depression.
Also, I've tried it, tastes just like normal diet coke.
@matt1978: Calling it gross is an understatement at best. It tastes weird and metallic, and the aftertaste is worse. One would be better off dropping a Flintstones Chewable in a can of regular Diet Coke, or Diet Coke sweetened with Splenda(R).
Just add some Purell to the Coke. You get 100% more aloe and ethyl alcohol. "Plus", you can go blind!
"Coke Piss" is more like it!
First, DC Plus is stupid, because anything with that quantity of artificial sweetener and phosphoric acid is bad for you regardless of added vitamins.
However, the plus obviously refers - obviously - to regular Diet Coke. And they have a rule for that? FFS!
Furthermore, does anyone else get the willies from "The FDA does not consider it appropriate to..."? Abuse of regulatory authority, anyone?
Diet Coke Plus.
It's like shaving your chest with a LAWNMOWER.
Diet Coke Plus.
It's like riding a pony, except the pony is 300 FEET TALL and COVERED IN CHAINSAWS.
Ewwwwwwwww. How do they even come up with this crap?
I understand that vitamin-fortified soda ain't the best idea in this obese world.
However, what idiot would not be able to deduce that Diet Coke Plus = Diet Coke, plus [vitamins]?
@Darascon: "gives you enough energy to kick a bear through a wall made entirely of tigers"
"kick chuck norris in the face over the phone"
"split an atom with your bare hands"
"cause heart attacks with the shear power of your awesomeness"
"burn holes in concrete with your sweat"
"win at fights against bears with lasers on their heads"
Did anyone else notice that the letter was dated December 10, 2008? Any word on a response from Coca-Cola? (yeah I already googled, aside from the news about this letter, nothing else comes up...)
im not stupid enough to think that im getting my fish oils by drinking this so what idiot out there is replacing his centrum with soda now?
As much as I'd like rail against soft drinks, it's a personal choice and the FDA is being kind of douchey about this.
To wit: There are breakfast cereals that are far worse than diet coke, but it's okay to fortify those with vitamins.
@Segador: If I wanted ethyl alcohol in my Coke, I'd add rum....and I'm surprised that the Coca-Cola Company hasn't contracted with some liquor company to make pre-mixed Rum and Cokes.
Maybe Jimmy Kimmel can explain to the FDA what the "plus" means. Last time I watched his show it was one long Coke commercial.
@apronk: Unless the FDA was having trouble with the many variations on Diet Coke that there are. Caffeine free, non-caffeine free... etc.
Gee, FDA, thanks for your input.
Now that we got those pesky vitamins out of our junkfood, should we address anything else inappropriate going into our snacks?
No? Everything else is fine? Even all that shitty GMO corn that goes into regular Coke? That doesn't need any kind of label or anything? Okay then, if you say so. See ya 'round.
well because only an idiot wouldnt know they were comparing it to plain old diet coke.
@Ash78:
True, but does diet Coke have,
"Hearts, Stars, and Horseshoes, Clovers, and Blue Moons, Pots of Gold and Rainbows, and me Red Balloons".
They could fortify that with shards of glass and I would still eat it.
You actually can buy a pre-mixed coke and rum drink in Mexico, though it is not branded as "Coca Cola" And yes, it is delicious.
Since they might have to stop making it, will the computer do the auto-layoff thingie?
I love how DC+ has been out for over a year and a half and the FDA is *just now* commenting on it.
What if it was truly harmful to people? Then that means that all those people that tried it while they were giving it away free (the only way people would drink it) would be hurt.
I think they should just put melamine in it. It might taste better...
Jack Daniels is now selling flavored alcoholic drinks, a la Mike's Hard, with Jack in them, including a "cola" flavor. No idea how it tastes, but I'm suspicious of the whole deal considering they also had a "watermelon" flavor that sounds plain nasty.
What is the point of metallic flavored, fake healthy Diet Coke? If you like the taste of Diet Coke, drink it and admit it's not that great for your teeth. If you want vitamins, swallow a multi and don't mess with the flavor of a beverage you enjoy.
@Matthew Leibel: Jack Daniels sells premixed drinks like that, including a Jack and cola. I've seen others and the cola is always generic. I think Coca Cola prefers to stay out of the liquor isle and the drink will never be a Jack and Pepsi or a rum and RC, so there's no need to.
It doesn't taste too bad to me. I much prefer pepsi but drink this on occasion. Plus has some added B vitamins which are supposed to help curve your energy levels through out the day. However, I don't think it has enough B vitamins to actually do that. When you take B vitamin complex supplements to help with dieting/weight loss/energy, it turns ones urine bright neon yellow.
I don't know what to make of the FDA's statement. Usually they are pro big business. This certainly isn't pro big business on the outside looking in. I can only assume there is some other ulterior motive the FDA has in mind.
Perhaps the FDA sees Coke Plus as a step towards a different line of products EG something which may include cane sugar instead of corn syrup in the future and that would put a dent into their big business structure. One can only guess....
-Phex
-3rd Year PharmD/MBA Candidate
The FDA is worried about "plus" labeling and they can't keep melamine, lead, or GHB out of our food supply? Get serious!
@Darascon: And Syke in turn stole their ads from Powerthirst. And BLANTANTLY stole their ads at that.
In fact, hell, that should be a Consumerist post in and of itself.
@BlondeGrlz is having a BlondeBoyz!: At first read, I thought you wrote "... like warm P*ss."
Though, I guess it's about the same thing, no?
Old News
Gee, I didn't know that the FDA was going into the trademark business. Who cares? Anyone stupid enough to believe that soda's healthy just because it's got some extra vitamins isn't going to suddenly understand if it becomes Diet Coke Extra or Diet Coke V or some nonsense like that.
1. Isn't the reference obvious? Diet Coke. Didn't even think that was in question.
2. Doesn't consider fortifying snack foods, but fortifying (nearly) sugar based cereals is ok? Cookie Crisp, anyone?
The whole point of the PLUS is to Plus-back all the nutrients the chemical sweetener toxins minus from your body while the drink poisons you.
@Mary: Saucer of milk, table for two reow!
My fault. You people at the FDA are just too picky about the wording of "Plus." ;)
Perhaps Coke can choose a synonym if those aren't regulated, Diet Coke Augmented? Diet Coke And More? Diet Coke and Extra Stuff? Diet Coke Woot?
@snowburnt: If you can palate it, the B vitamins might do.. something.
I tried a can of the stuff and it was serious crap.
I've heard that Diet Coke actually has an ingredient in it that makes you retain body fat... Yay!
And considering the stuff shines up pennies, we really shouldn't be drinking it in the first place.
Since when is the FDA against fortifying "snack foods" with vitamins?
What about all the junk food fortified with exorbitant amounts of VITAMIN C!!!!!!! *cough cough sunny d* so that Moms will see some benefit in buying it for their screaming speshuls?
Boy, this stuff is gross. And I drink Tab, so that should tell you how low this is on the drinkability charts.