Diet Coke is attempting to defend its use of artificial sweeteners following a series of attacks against its use of aspartame the most common sweetener in the United States.
The ad, which will eventually run nationally, appeared in the print edition of USA Today in the Atlanta region Wednesday and in the Atlantic Journal Constitution on Thursday according to a Coca-Cola spokesperson Ben Sheidler. The ad campaign, entitled "Quality Products You Can Always Feel Good About," highlights the benefits and safety of low-calorie and artificial sweeteners fount in the soft drink company's famous beverages.
"Time and again, these low- and no-calorie sweeteners have shown to be safe, high-quality alternatives to sugar," the ad states. "In fact, the safety of aspartame is supported by more than 200 studies over the last 40 years."
The company believes low-calorie drinks are an important part of managing weight and obesity. However, it acknowledges that people have concerns about the artificial sweeteners used to give it that famous taste.
ABC News reports: "Many large public health organizations say the sweeteners have no adverse health effects when used in moderation. The Food and Drug Administration, for example, regards aspartame as a safe food ingredient. The American Cancer Society notes that most studies don't associate aspartame use with an increased risk of cancer. The American Heart Association, The American Diabetes Association and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics all have published position statements supporting the moderate use of artificial sweeteners."
The add is a step in a larger ad campaign by Coke that was launched earlier this year to bring up sales of the soft drink which dropped 1 percent for Coke and 3 percent for Diet Coke over the past year.
Tell us what you think, do you trust Diet Coke as an effective way to keep off some excess calories or do the studies presented by the various health organizations turn you off of the product for good? Comment and share your thoughts below.