Fentimans ginger beer now has Stevia in.

[Camdenish]

Just that!

Nothing on the bottle to say there has been a change of recipe. It tasted so disgusting that I checked the ingredients list. Steviol (from Stevia) in it. I know it’s not an artificial sweetener but I don’t care. I want changes labelled so I don’t end up ingesting something that tastes of liquorice and gives me headaches and messes with my guts.

I will be so sad if all Fentimans drinks go this way, it’s difficult enough getting fizzy drinks that are only sugar, no sweeteners.

Dis, I love the Dandelion & Burdock and would usually have that but it was out of stock. I wonder if when it comes back in it’ll have been reformulated.

I’ve stuck to sparkling water for years now because of artificial sweeteners. At home I mix it half and half with (pure) orange juice.

One of the few good things about the different ingredients in food/drinks in the US that I've discovered since moving here is that San Pellegrino here is still sweetened with sugar. Coke, on the other hand, has HFCS, which while better than artificial sweeteners or stevia, is still unpleasant. Whyyyy must they do it? I'm gutted to hear Fentimans have gone the same way as all the others. I'm so sad I'm never drink those things again, I don't drink fizzy drinks often but things like irn bru have such nostalgia associated with them for me and it's ruined by revolting sugar substitutes.

Fever Tree ginger beer is amazing. Its so fiery if burns your lips off. Belvoir ginger beer lovely too but not sure about the ingredients.

I don’t drink the fizzies at home, only when out, and the local places have Fentimans as their “posh” drink. I might have to change to fresh orange and sparkling water.

Lord this is so annoying! Thanks for the warning OP.

I actually love Fever tree drinks on their own. Maybe I should stock up. I wonder what the best before date is?

I feel your pain OP, it's just so insidious how it's sneaked in to so many drinks. I don't have fizzy drinks often but if I do I want it to have sugar not sweeteners and it pisses me off to be treated like a child...yes I'm over invested 😆

I'm sure I read something that a gene receptor some people gave that means artificial sweeteners taste bitter.

Cawson press is nice and doesn't have sweeteners

Thanks for the heads up. I hate the taste of artificial sweeteners and they cause behavioural issues in DD. I loved Fentimans - so sorry to hear they have changed recipes.

Rio, and Cawstons are (so far) unsullied. Thank the Gods for normal Coca Cola too.

World "I hate the taste of artificial sweeteners and they cause behavioural issues in DD"

there were studies for people with depression, nothing proven but as my doc said, can't hurt to avoid it. Makes my stomach feel odd anyway.

Weird!! I just checked Fentimans website and the ingredients list for Curiosity Cola is fine. The Tescos website lists Steviol as an ingredient. Just going to check other supplies. I wonder if Fentimans are bowing to supermarket price pressure and hence using a cheaper ingredient for that market?

Waitrose product also contains Steviol. Amazon doesn’t if anyone wants to stock up on the proper stuff.

You can get blood orange full sugar “classic” san pellegrino pop (and the other flavours) online or in booths. I hate all the sweeteners too.

Agree 100%, I feel nauseous if i drink aspartame and am just generally cross as basic drinks being made all full of weird chemicals now. Bought a sodastream and lemons. Learning how to make my own spicy ginger beer. Mixed results but will keep trying!

M&S do a new (I think) lemonade without sweeteners.

the difference is incredible

I bought a Sodastream and was really disappinted.

but...what's the betting they'll change the mixes? We'll have to learn to make our own cordial.

Well I'm glad I posted. I didn't know about the classic flavour SP, does seem to point towards lots feeling this way.

I've just had mosey at the local Co Op and the Fentimans doesn't have steviol in it and has a BB date of 28.06.24 so I bought the lots (26 bottles) will be interesting to see what replaces it...(or that this is all a ploy to increase sales 😆)

Is "herbal infusion" their way of describing Stevia?

Thanks for the heads up. I bought some in Tesco on Saturday and have just checked and it now contains sweetener (haven't drunk any yet). No indication at all on the packaging that the recipe has changed which is a bit naughty imo.

There's a scene in The Seven Year Itch where a character looks at his soft drink ingredients, reads them out and says "I should really get my doctor explain why this better for me than a little scotch and soda". Very relatable.

At this rate only safe drink will be alcohol

Ingredients

The bottle of Fentimans I had, had the spiel about “no artificial sweeteners” removed.

Thats so funny Emma. I’m going to have to start on shots.

worldgonecrazy you have provided and excellent research service, I thank you. Far more useful than my moaning.

That's so disappointing 😞 I buy it quite often but guess I'll be on the lookout for a new brand now

Sweeteners taste so bad and nothing disguises the taste (natural or artificial)

So many previously nice things have been ruined by them (and honestly I think the health risks of artificial sweetener in particular are really under researched)

No! Another one of the few remaining natural soft drinks off the list!

I was so peed off when San Pellegrino changed to artificial sweetener ☹️.

As someone says up the thread soon it'll just be coke that doesn't have shitty sweetener in it.