Editing Diet Coke (section)

== Sweeteners ==
Diet Coke in the U.S. was sweetened with [[aspartame]], an artificial sweetener that became available in the United States in 1983.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 18, 1983 |title=Coke Beginning Aspartame Use |page=D4 |newspaper=New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/18/business/coke-beginning-aspartame-use.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20170328113424/http://www.nytimes.com/1983/08/18/business/coke-beginning-aspartame-use.html |archive-date=March 28, 2017}}</ref> Early on, to reduce costs, this was blended with [[saccharin]]. After [[Diet Rite]] cola advertised its 100 percent use of aspartame, and the manufacturer of [[NutraSweet]] (then [[G. D. Searle & Company]]) warned that the NutraSweet trademark would not be made available to a blend of sweeteners, Coca-Cola switched the formula to 100 percent aspartame. Diet Coke from fountain dispensers still contains some saccharin to extend shelf life.<ref>{{cite news |author=Ordoñez, Franco |date=March 3, 2005 |title=Suit Alleges Deceit in Fountain Diet Cola Drinks |newspaper=Boston Globe |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/03/03/suit_alleges_deceit_in_fountain_diet_cola_drinks/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007082919/http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2005/03/03/suit_alleges_deceit_in_fountain_diet_cola_drinks/ |archive-date=October 7, 2008}}</ref>

According to the Coca-Cola Company, the sweetener blend is "formulated for each country based on consumer preference".<ref>{{cite web |title=FAQs |url=http://www.coca-colacompany.com/contact-us/faqs |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140210200042/http://www.coca-colacompany.com/contact-us/faqs |archive-date=February 10, 2014 |access-date=March 23, 2017 |work=The Coca-Cola Company}}</ref> [[Cyclamate]]s were banned in the U.S. in 1970;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aspartame and Other Sweeteners in Food |website=[[Food and Drug Administration|FDA]] |url=https://www.fda.gov/food/food-additives-petitions/aspartame-and-other-sweeteners-food |access-date=December 26, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Newton |first1=David E |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F29kaFKuJdMC&pg=PA73 |title=Food Chemistry |date=2009-01-01 |isbn=978-1-4381-0975-6 |pages=73–77|publisher=Infobase }}</ref> in countries where they are permitted Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Light may be sweetened with a blend containing aspartame, cyclamates, and [[acesulfame potassium]].