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..!

OP, San Pellegrino is still available in the old formula, you need to buy the "Classic", which is what the rest of Europe still drinks! I get mine from Ocado.

They should be alternatives only not the norm. Sweeteners affect my bladder and taste vile.

I’ve never seen it! We’re in NI, don’t think it is available here unfortunately.

Exactly. I’m like you, I can taste it instantly and it makes me feel really unwell.

Yes I get San Pellegrino drinks from Amazon, they are great.

In America can buy flavored fizzy water. No sweetenter no sugar. It’s amazing.

In UK, no. Just vile aspartame water.

I love the Ginger one too

@KnittedCardi You are a lifesaver! We don’t have Ocado but have just seen it available on Amazon and bought a 24 pack of aranciata🤣 Thank you!!

Pepsi tastes horrible now. I'm quite upset about it. Before with Ruben's they'd offer the less sugar one, but now the original is less sugar and tastes like 💩

*ribena

Is appletiser still safe? It used to be one of the few I think. It's nice "diluted" with fizzy water as its too sweet on its own.

If they ever come for full fat coke I'll be gutted - it's the only other fizzy drink I like and has to be a rare treat because I know full well how much sugar is in it but like so many of us can taste a sweetener instantly and can't stand any of them.

Yes, it’s still pure carbonated apple juice - for now at least!!

Haven’t read every post but I agree, they’re vile. I miss lucozade! additional annoyance that “premium” (extra expensive) drinks that used to be full sugar, are now not, like fentimans. Premium price for a shite taste now!

non sweetener drinks I have found-
irn bru 1901
m&s normal lemonade, the fizzy non diet one
rocks squash
belvoir squash

and I’ve started buying mr Fitzpatricks cordials online and adding fizzy water. Dandelion and burdock is my fave

In many respects it’s easier to buy sparking water and drop your own flavourings in. Simple things like lemon, lime or orange slices, fresh raspberries or other fruits.
But it shouldn’t be necessary to do this.

Irn Bru 1901 is the original full sugar recipe. It's not available everywhere and is expensive (they had 4 cans for £4 I the co-op). You can occasionally find it in glass bottles too.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0BLXZT23V?th=1

The 1901 one isn’t as good as it hasn’t got caffeine like normal Irn-Bru had.

Im a bit concerned that others have said that Stevia doesnt need to be delcared, is this in the ingredients list at all, or just that they pretend its not an artificial sweetner?

I have to examine all the labels very carefully in the supermarket

Stevia has a bitter aftertaste to me. I ruined three batches of protein brownies before I worked out what it was.

I can't get away with it either, wanted to like it bought expensive stevia drops online a few years ago but could still detect a funny taste (like liquorice) still found it bothered my stomach

Agreed. I have more issue with sweeteners and artificial salt than I do with salt and sugar. Trying to make everyone forcibly eat chemical alternatives which are man made utterly pisses me off. I want to police my intake with ingredients, not eat someone else's chemical laden 'healthier' option.

I had years of low level distress thinking I was incontinent, when actually just a sensive bladder. I cannot take Artifical sugers without leaking. Avoid them, I'm generally fine - bit of Yoga and I'm completely fine 😊!

Add low fat to the mix as well!

It's such a relief to realise I'm not alone in this. I always feel I'm being the fussy one when people insist I can't tell the fake sugars.

I'm also so depressed about Ribena, that was my favourite drink for years.

The WHO has listed aspartame as a carcinogenic so I don't understand why anyone would drink diet stuff with it in. Madness to give it to kids.

There's no incentive for them to change. It will be much cheaper to use sweeteners than sugar. Stable market price vs unstable farmed product. Requires MUCH less by weight so cheaper to transport etc etc

You'll notice the drinks industry didn't fight this at all, there's a reason for that. And consumers can't vote with their feet to another product cos there aren't any.