I found this on CNN the other day. Can you believe it?
Quote:
Lower-carb Coke on the way
No. 1 soft-drink firm looks to take advantage of diet craze with C2.
April 19, 2004: 4:20 PM EDT
NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Coca-Cola Co. said Monday it will launch a soft-drink with half the carbohydrates of traditional colas this summer as the world's largest soft-drink firm looks to capitalize on the low-carb diet craze.
"Consumers are the true architects of this idea," said Coke's (KO: Research, Estimates) CEO Doug Daft in a statement. "Coca-Cola C2 was created to specifically address their desire for a lower-calorie cola."
A Coca-Cola spokesman would not give specific dates for the roll-out of the new drink, but told Reuters it would appear in stores across the United States before the planned late summer launch of Pepsi Edge, PepsiCo Inc.'s (PEP: Research, Estimates) low calorie cola.
The Atlanta-based company said it will release Coca-Cola C2 first in Japan and then in the United States.
Industry newsletter Beverage Digest, which was first to report the roll-out of Coca-Cola C2 Monday, said the drink would make its U.S. debut on June 16. Coca-Cola C2 will arrive at a time when Coca-Cola is working feverishly to revitalize sluggish soft drink sales in North America, the largest and most important market for Coca-Cola and its nearest rival PepsiCo.
Over the past few years, Coca-Cola has broadened the scope of its flagship product with Vanilla Coke, Diet Coke with Lemon and Diet Coke with Lime.
It's also made a push into the non-carbonated sector with products like Dasani water, Minute Maid fruit juices and Powerade sports drinks.
HELLO!!! Do these nuts forget that Diet Coke is carb-free? Why go to a "mid-carb" drink?
Hello? Did you forget it is all about how much money they can separate consumers from?
They couldn't care less about a low-carb cola - it is just one more product to sell and make money on. Yes, Diet Coke is carb-free - but it has been around for ages. This will be "new" and new products sell.
I'll keep drinking my Diet Rite and my Diet Coke, thank you very much.
I saw that, too, and thought the same thing. But I guess one good thing about it is that Diet Coke, like a lot of other diet drinks, has that aspartame stuff that Atkins discourages (supposedly inhibits weight loss, and such). Hopefully, this low carb coke will contain a sweetener that will allow Coke fans to stay on Atkins w/o repercussions.
Personally, I don't drink Diet Coke b/c I don't like the aftertaste--I stick with Diet Mountain Dew--but I'll give C2 a try.
Oh, scratch that last comment of mine. I didn't see the part about HALF the carbs. I just ASSUMED that it would be carb-free. 13 carbs? Blech. Back to Diet Dew.
It's very ingenious from a business end, wish I was THAT stupid (I'd be RICH). This is good for folks that are not on atkins/south beach/etc.. and are just watching carbs but can't stand the taste of diet soda's. For them this would be good but what are they going to sweeten it with I wonder and is it going to taste funky.
Star......business' will do anything to rape the public, you should be used to this kind of stuff, I know I am, I'm actually growing numb from all the nonsense
I'm glad the FDA is going to start soon to regulate the label of "low carb," I think they said if its not 25% or below manufactures can not claim its low carb, so I thought I read.
My 1st thought was OMG how many carbs were in the diet vanilla coke I just drank...then I checked the label.....my 2nd thought was....do they think we're stupid???????? I guess so.....Im so glad to be in such a smart group of chickies!!
Ladies and Gentlemen! presenting a new and improved product now with even better taste! Leenie and Marie's Low Carb Water! you can freeze it! Boil it! drink it stee-raight out of the bottle! Use it in soups, sauces, the PERFECT mixer for your favorite drink mixes!...and all....and I'll say this slowly....without carbs!!!! Order in the next 10 minutes and we will throw in , ABSOLUTELY free, a 30 day supply of low carb air! What do you think you'd pay for this???? $100.00?....$75.00?....NO! today only and only for the next 10 minutes we are offering BOTH the low carb water AND low carb air for the low low one time only price of $19.99!!!.....*shifty eyes* uh...anybody buying this?
I heard about this, and I thought it was ridiculous, too. It's just setting people up to fail. Uniformed people see things with a "low-carb" label and think it's OK to eat. Then, they assume low-carb diets or Atkins don't work. I'm glad we're all so smart!
I wish the FDA would hurry up! By their rules, under 7 carbs is low carb and higher than that but at least 1/3 less carbs than "normal" will be reduced carb. And sugar alcohols count (hopefully!)
Of all the stupid things!
Boil it! 
drink it stee-raight out of the bottle! Use it in soups, sauces, the PERFECT mixer for your favorite drink mixes!...and all....and I'll say this slowly....without carbs!!!! Order in the next 10 minutes and we will throw in , ABSOLUTELY free, a 30 day supply of low carb air! What do you think you'd pay for this???? $100.00?....$75.00?....NO! today only and only for the next 10 minutes we are offering BOTH the low carb water AND low carb air for the low low one time only price of $19.99!!!.....*shifty eyes* uh...anybody buying this?
