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Why does my diet soda taste off? Aspartame hydrolysis

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Re: Why does my diet soda taste off? Aspartame hydrolysis

#71
post #61
post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Same observation in Sweden. So I'm not going crazy! Not sure if our Pepsi is bottled in the same place, but our Coca Cola isn't.

Carlsberg Sverige and Ringnes AS (also Carlsberg), I'm guessing it's made locally. Haven't notice anything with the Swedish Pepsi max and I'm drinking _a lot_ of it. Didn't get the flu yet so my taste buds should be good! Coke zero got a lot better after the new recipe if you ask me but still a Pepsi guy :)

I drank a lot of Pepsi Max since 2006 to sometime just before the pandemic when I started feeling the difference.

Recently I have only tried the ones from Norway since the border has been closed for so long && local shops have reduced prices to Swedish levels for now, but the Pepsi Max I get here all tastes stale now across all shops and all bottle sizes I have tested.

Re: Why does my diet soda taste off? Aspartame hydrolysis

#74
post #8

Recently I went to my office for the first time since the pandemic started. The Diet Coke in the office fridge tasted HORRIBLE.

Had the same experience briefly returning to an office last year, some very unappetizing Coke Zero. I don't know how much Ace-K differs in this regard or if there's not really enough to matter but... not good. Was not really something I previously thought of as really expiring in any meaningful sense.

Acesulfame K is not sensitive to degradation at coke pH. In addition to acesulfame K coke zero reportedly contains aspartame as well so that was probably the cause of the off-taste.

Re: Why does my diet soda taste off? Aspartame hydrolysis

#75

I don't get the concept of diet soda. If you consume something unhealthy - shouldn't it at least taste good? Or is it some sort of self-punishment?

I used to dislike the taste of all diet soda, but something changed and now most of them are fine; I really don't miss real sugar soda anymore.

Re: Why does my diet soda taste off? Aspartame hydrolysis

#76
Some time ago I could tell something was really off about the taste of my diet soda even though it was way before it's expiry date. I was able to find out some storage irregularities with the shop I was buying from and call CC on them. Turns out they were also doing a lot of stupid things like taking meat freezers out of socket overnight to reduce energy consumption.

Re: Why does my diet soda taste off? Aspartame hydrolysis

#77
post #76

Some time ago I could tell something was really off about the taste of my diet soda even though it was way before it's expiry date. I was able to find out some storage irregularities with the shop I was buying from and call CC on them. Turns out they were also doing a lot of stupid things like taking meat freezers out of socket overnight to reduce energy consumption.

What's CC? Health inspection?

Re: Why does my diet soda taste off? Aspartame hydrolysis

#78

I don't get the concept of diet soda. If you consume something unhealthy - shouldn't it at least taste good? Or is it some sort of self-punishment?

I quite like Coke Zero, although I admit that regular Coke does taste somewhat better.

However, my reason for drinking diet Coke is that sometimes I feel like drinking soda, but if I can limit the damage done (by sugar, since I'm trying to lose weight), might as well do it.

Sure, no soda at all is best, but I think this is one of those cases which aren't all black or all white.

Re: Why does my diet soda taste off? Aspartame hydrolysis

#80
post #46

Never saw the point of diet sodas. I'd much rather drink normal coke with proper sugar in it. It's unhealthy, yes - so drink slightly less.

This is my life motto: eat well but portion wisely. I like butter. I like sugar. I like McDonalds, and cream, and cheese. So I eat these things, but only in moderation. I don't worry about trying to trick my tastebuds into thinking food tastes good. To me, artificial sweeteners taste bitter and wholly unpleasant. I would rather just drink water than drink diet soda. Indeed, I drink soda very rarely now, but once ever…

> So I eat these things, but only in moderation

I've found this is difficult for me. It's much easier to not eat those foods at all than to hope to only eat "a little".

A mitigation is only buying very small packs, but that's not always practical.

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