Coca‑Cola Blog: Health & Wellness

Since its invention in 1886, Coca‑Cola has become the biggest selling soft drink in history. Yet over the years, our drinks portfolio has grown into a varied list of more than 500 brands across the globe, with more than 35 per cent of our drinks in Great Britain being low and no calories.

We provide great-tasting drinks and believe in offering options so people can decide which of our drinks best suit their needs and lifestyle. We are committed to providing a variety of products for every lifestyle and occasion. All of our products can be part of an active, healthy lifestyle that includes a sensible, balanced diet and regular physical activity.

Over the last 125 years, we have constantly looked to innovate with our products, to suit the needs of our consumers. Scientists have shown that a liking for sweet foods is innate. So whilst we used to rely on sweet taste to know what foods were safe to eat, today our enjoyment of sweetness is usually for pleasure. As we understand the need for a sensible, balanced diet, we at Coca‑Cola have developed drinks such as Coke Zero and Diet Coke so we can enjoy sweet tastes whilst adding virtually no calories to our diet.

Before joining Coca‑Cola as a Director of Scientific and Regulatory Affairs, I was Director of Food Safety and Science at the UK’s Food and Drink Federation (FDF). As I did then, I continue to work with policy makers, regulators and opinion formers, to ensure that our Coca‑Cola drink developments meet the high expectations of our consumers, and that all those who have an interest in our products (and there are many!) understand the facts about them.

When it comes to managing weight, it’s important to balance the calories you take in with the calories you burn (experts call this 'energy balance'). Providing low and no calories drinks is just one part of our commitment to supporting consumers in achieving sensible, balanced diets as part of active, healthy lifestyles. To help with managing the 'calories out' part of the equation, Coca‑Cola offers a range of activity opportunities across the country. We also sponsor many sporting events such as the Great North Run and the Olympic Games to further inspire active lifestyles among our consumers.

Coca‑Cola has an uncompromising commitment to the safety of its products and their ingredients. Sweeteners and caffeine are good examples. We continue to work with experts to ensure the ongoing safety and enjoyment of these ingredients and their use in our drinks. We use sweeteners so we can provide our wide choice of sugar free drinks, which are virtually calorie free. One of the sweeteners we use in the likes of Diet Coke is aspartame. Aspartame is found in many foods and drinks including cereals, jams and sugar/fat free yogurts. Aspartame has been shown time and time again, to be a very well understood and safe ingredient.

Over the past decades, various reports have claimed that low calorie sweeteners are associated with a range of adverse health effects. However, the evidence for these claims has been reviewed by international agencies, such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), and they have concluded that such claims are without substance. Indeed it will be no surprise that all of the ingredients used in our products are safe and comply with relevant regulations in the countries in which they are sold.

Caffeine is a widely occurring ingredient found naturally in tea, coffee and cocoa and it can also be man made. Caffeine adds to the unique taste of some of our drinks. A 330ml can of Coca‑Cola has less than a third of the caffeine of an average mug of coffee - more facts can be discovered by monitoring your own caffeine intake on the Coca‑Cola Caffeine Counter.

Dental hygiene is of equal interest to our consumers. All fermentable carbohydrates, (sugars and some starches), including those in carbonated soft drinks, can contribute to the development of tooth decay, and any food and drink that is high in food acids can contribute to dental erosion if consumed too frequently or left in the mouth for long periods of time. A glass of Coca‑Cola or orange juice contains roughly the same amount of sugar and has similar levels of acidity, but juice contains additional nutrients not present in Coca‑Cola.

As we head into the next 125 years, I and the Science and Regulatory Department at Coca‑Cola will always seek to put our consumers first, adapting to changing tastes, behaviour and lifestyle demands to ensure that we continue to satisfy with our refreshing drinks, in Great Britain, Europe and across the globe.