Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!floyd!clyde!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece From: preece@uicsl.UUCP Newsgroups: net.misc Subject: Re: New Diet Coke - (nf) Message-ID: <4191@uiucdcs.UUCP> Date: Mon, 28-Nov-83 23:08:16 EST Article-I.D.: uiucdcs.4191 Posted: Mon Nov 28 23:08:16 1983 Date-Received: Wed, 30-Nov-83 03:19:30 EST Lines: 18 #R:hpfclk:7400001:uicsl:7500033:000:774 uicsl!preece Nov 28 09:15:00 1983 Aspartame (NutraSweet) is much more expensive than saccharin, as well as much sweeter. I suspect they're using it because (1) it's a NEW THING and therefore hype-able, (2) it tastes better, and (3) it reduces the saccharin content, which is popularly thought to be good, since saccharin is generally thought to be dangerous. The cost factors are strange. The cost of a gallon of syrup for making a soft drink seems to be driven more by the marketplace than by the cost of ingredients. The New York Times ran a table a month or so ago showing the manufacturing costs and sale prices of various soft drink formulations. All aspartame was much more expensive than mixed saccharin and aspartame but would not sell for that much more. scott preece ihnp4!uiucdcs!uicsl!preece