To despise the rise of artificial sweeteners in soft drinks

[BrookGreen54]

AIBU to just want proper sugar back?! (lighthearted… ish)

It is nearly impossible these days to buy a soft drink that does not contain any artificial sweeteners. I am completely fine with people having diet options if that’s what they prefer (aka how it used to be) but if I personally choose to drink proper sugar then why am I having to contend with horrible aspartame etc now appearing in almost everything? What happened to giving customers some choice? It tastes disgusting and gives me + plenty of others headaches, not to mention the other adverse, longer term health effects.

Bought a bottle of good old Orangina yesterday, which silly me thought would be a safe choice - unfortunately it seems to be the newest addition to the ruined by sweetener club. It now tastes revolting and so artificial, I couldn’t even drink it. The only things that are safe nowadays are full fat Coca-Cola, proper fruit juice and certain brands of squash. Even San Pellegrino has gone to the dogs..!

I can't have pimm's any more as nowhere sells lemonade without those awful sweeteners and that just ruins it (first world problem, I know, but it's a nice not-too-alcoholic summer drink!)

Yes! I took my elderly mum to hospital recently for some tests. She gets herself a bit worked up beforehand and doesn’t eat or drink properly so we always celebrate when they’re over with a visit to the cafe. It was a warm day and she fancied a soft drink. My mum is the approximate weight of a twig so I take every opportunity to feed her up. I could buy cakes of every variety, ice cream, there were sachets of sugar to pour into tea or coffee. But there was not a single can of any fizzy drink in the entire cafe that wasn’t a ‘zero’ version!! Infuriating.

Ugh yeah. It’s one good thing about McDonald’s. They do proper full sugared coke

I now just drink more alcohol as I can’t get sweetener free drinks in pubs anymore.

Cider is now also a no go drink as at least one of the big producers adds artificial sweeteners and under the labelling laws for alcohol, it does not need to be disclosed.

The problem is the majority of the population aren't as disciplined as you and I. Ordinarily I would choose sugar free alternatives irrespective of what is offered, I'd rather the slight after taste than the calories and sugar. I wouldn't forgo a full sugar coke on an evening out however.

Obesity is the biggest challenge this country faces in my opinion. The burden of overweight individuals will only play an ever increasing pressure on the NHS.

I agree with you all. Gutted they've come for San Pellegrino now though, didn't know as haven't bought any in a while.
Rocks squash for us and check the labels on anything I don't know.
Sweeteners have a nasty lingering after taste.
And as pp said this sugar and sweeteners nonsense is just worst of both worlds and no choice at all.

I have apple juice with Pimms. If you need the fizz, you could top it up with a dash of sparkling water.

I’ve just checked our bottle in the cupboard - we must be lucky as it’s the old no sweetener/Stevia version. That being said, I’m not overly fussed about Stevia anyway as it’s natural and at least to me doesn’t taste bad or have any nasty side effects.

I feel the same. I miss the old Fanta. I used to live near a local grocers which sold Fanta from South Africa. So good to taste the sugar again!

I concur op. Very rarely I want a can of sugary pop, specifically a ginger beer. It can't be found without aspartine for love nor money.
And I miss proper strawberry Ribena.

Omg so with you, just give me the sugar and no artificial rubbish. Full fat everything in this household!

Bottle green cordials are still just sugar and really nice. The ginger one is amazing with loads of ice and just plain water

I do the same with alcohol. It's easier to drink now when out than stick to soft drinks.

I didn't know it about cider though. Tonic water can also be tricky.

I detest aspartame and all artificial sweeteners, that disgusting chemical undertaste. It is especially vile in yoghurt.

What I don't understand is why they can't just reduce the sugar rather than replacing it. A lower sugar version of these drinks and yoghurts might be nicer as well as healthier. Someone told me that normal Coke has nine teaspoons of sugar per can. NINE! Well, why not try a three sugar or two sugar version?

I now exclusively drink Belvoir Farm blueberry & blackcurrant cordial because it only contains six ingredients, one of which is sugar. It's not cheap but it is delicious. I drink it with fizzy water. They also do an elderflower cordial, too.

ain weight by “going diet?” Artificial sweeteners and the ...

National Institutes of Health (NIH) (.gov)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov › articles › PMC2892765

by Q Yang · 2010 · Cited by 501 — While people often choose “diet” or “light” products to lose weight, research studies suggest that artificial sweeteners may contribute to weight gain.

Theres increasing evidence that the vile stuff messes up your metabolism and can cause weight gain

I was in love with Soda Folk's root beer & cream soda, then they trashed the recipe by adding steviol. At the time they were one of the few still using sugar & I respected them for it...

There's barely anything left now that doesn't have sweeteners & it all tastes so bland, joyless & thin. Worse, all the sweeteners leave an aftertaste.

I agree. I hate the taste of artificial sweetener and don't believe it's ok for human consumption. We mainly drink water but a nice change or on a hot day I'd like the option of a drink that isn't loaded with rubbish.
Appletise is ok.
And I LOVE Dalston press. That's just fruit juice and sparkling water and is really lovely.

Lidl has a nice cherry one during polish week, no fake sugar or corn syrup. There's another flavour too.

It's dangerous because we don't know how we react metabolically to a mix of real and fake sugar, there are preliminary studies showing it might be really bad. Personally I think one or the other is best until we know.

Aspartame makes me quite ill. Crippling stomach cramps, searing headache etc. I got used to checking drinks some time back but now that list has grown to include toothpastes, vitamin and health supplements and even medication.

Whilst I can handle other sweeteners like acesulfame etc I find the aftertaste to be horrid so avoid them.

Fuck, you are right OP, even full fat Ribena is now full of artificial shite. I did wonder why it tasted crap but have only now looked at the ingredients.
Is the Rock blackcurrant cordial still ok?

I think my best bet is sticking to wine, sod the soft stuff!!!!

I wrote to Barrs when they ruined Irn Bru and got the reply that tastes had changed. Then they brought in the 1901 version. Obviously tastes hadn't changed that much! Sadly it's really difficult to get in England. I always stock up when we go to visit family in Scotland.

YANBU. It tastes like shit. I have a couple of Cherry Cokes a week as it's one of the few soft drinks still without.

The 1901 Irn Bru is very expensive when you can get it. It’s a good choice but it’s not an every day drink imo.