Coca-Cola Zero
From Freepedia
Coca-Cola Zero is a product of the Coca-Cola company, released in June 2005. It is a sugar-free variation of Coca-Cola Classic, sweetened with a blend of aspartame and acesulfame potassium. This product is different from Diet Coke because of the sweeteners it uses (Diet Coke only uses aspartame), and because, unlike Diet Coke, this product is based on the original Coca-Cola formula. Diet Coke was an entirely new formula which would eventually become the basis for the controversial New Coke (later renamed Coke II).
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Coca-Cola Light
Contrary to popular belief, Coca-Cola Zero is not a new formulation. The same blend of aspartame and acesulfame potassium along with the Coca-Cola Classic formula has been available for quite some time in many European countries which were never exposed to New Coke. Commonly called Coca-Cola Light or Coke Light in Europe, the Coca-Cola Zero formula is identical to that used in foreign countries.
In addition to never having been introduced to New Coke, part of the basis for the decision to market this different product was determined by health regulations in the various countries. In 1970 both the United States and the United Kingdom placed a ban on cyclamates due to fears of possible carcinogenic effects. The ban on acesulfame potassium was lifted in the mid 1980s in all countries except Canada, which approved its use in 1994.
The lifting of the ban and new studies refuting the carcinogenic nature of acesulfame potassium paved the way for a more broad use of the compound across the globe, and allowing for the long standard European version of Diet Coke to come to North America.
Controversy
Despite current studies indicating the safety of aspartame and acesulfame potassium there are still wide concerns amongst consumers about the safety of these compounds. More information about this controversy can be found in the main article on diet Coca-Cola products, or the articles on the compounds in question.
Notes
This product is not to be confused with "Diet Coke sweetened with Splenda," which is based on the Diet Coke/New Coke/Coke II formula and is sweetened with sucralose (under the trademark Splenda). It is also not to be confused with Coke C2, a 70-calorie variant of Coca-Cola Classic.
In its North American formulation, a 355-ml can of Coca-Cola Zero contains 85 mg of aspartame and 46 mg of acesulfame potassium.
