We’re interesting in all kinds of studies about soft drinks. Some studies report on an association between drinking sweetened beverages and diabetes. However, there’s a broad consensus that the overweight or obesity are important risk factors for type 2 diabetes. To eat a lot calories from food and drinks, including sodas, can contribute to weight gain and, consequently, increase the risk of diabetes. As every food and drink, sugar sweetened sodas can be consumed with moderation. For those who want to decrease their calories and sugar intake, we offer a great range of tasty beverages that are low, or zero, in sugar and calories, like the Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. A lot of our beverages also comes in small packages and there are informations about calories in every product label to help consumers choose what’s best for them. Any person that is worried about the risk for diabetes must consult a doctor.

A parody of the iconic commercial “Hilltop” – also known as “I’d like to buy the world a Coke” – released by The Coca-Cola Company in the 70’s, relates the consumption of sweetened beverages with health problems.

See what the company has to say about it:

Coca-Cola Brasil always seeks for iniciatives that brings solutions to problems related to society wellness. As it is, it offers beverages for every kind of lifestyle and for different occasions, including the ones with low or zero calories in small packages. Besides that, in every product label there are informations – clear and transparent ones – about the amount of ingredients and the nutritional facts, so that consumers can make their choices in a conscious way.

Soda don’t increase cancer risk. The safety of the ingredients in our beverages is non-negotiable for us. We only use ingredients confirmed as safe by several globally recognized authorities, including the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) – Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) – and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

This phenomenom doesn’t happen only with Coca-Cola. Sparkling water, sparkling wine and other soft drinks will cause the same. The intensity will depend on product characteristics and the respective amout of gas. Speaking a little in terms of science: in carbonated beverages the carbon gas (CO2) is in balance with the liquid and can be affected in many way, like a simple shake. Since the CO2 is distributed in the liquid’s body, any substance that bring a little distress to this balance will expel the gas very rapidly. Mentos is heavier that the soda, so it reaches the base and makes a mess with the CO2 from the bottom to the top, congesting the top layers causing a quick imbalance with the immediate release of the gas, throwing the liquid out.

This phenomenom is a result of the destabilisation of the gas that happens under a domino effect. It’s going to be more intense in diet products because they have less body, making it easier for the escape of the gas. The size of the bottleneck also counts, because the narrower that it is more strong is going to be the blast. Now you must be wondering: “what if I eat the candy and drink soda?”. Most of the gas is lost during mouth contact and intake. A person with normal habits that eats Mentos and drinks a fizzy drink will never go under similiar conditions.

According to the Nacional Agency of Sanitary Surveillance (ANVISA) – RDC Resolution nº 54 from November 12th, 2012, beverages with up to 80 mg of sodium per 200 ml portion are considered “low sodium”. Coca-Cola zero sugar has 49 mg of sodium (350 ml), Coca-Cola Light has 40 mg (350 ml) and Coca-Cola original taste has 18 mg of sodium (350 ml). These informations are available for consultation at the label of the products. The amount of sodium in our products represents a small percentage of the recommended maximum daily consumption.