Sugar Substitutes & Alternatives: Sweeteners

At Coca‑Cola Australia, across our range of more than 120 products we use a variety of different sweeteners including both low- and no-kilojoule options. 

A kilojoule is a unit of measurement for the amount of energy in a food or drink. The lower the number, the less energy it has. Often, non-sugar sweeteners are used as an alternative to sugar because they contribute fewer kilojoules when consumed. 

While sugar alternatives may be lower in kilojoules than regular sugar, they are not low on flavour. Sugar substitutes can be 200-600 times sweeter than sugar. In many cases, a little goes a long way. 

One of the Coca‑Cola Australia drinks using low-kilojoule sweeteners as a sugar substitute is Coke No Sugar.

Are sweeteners safe?

One of the most frequently asked questions about sweeteners is, are they safe to consume? Many organisations, including Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United States (FAO), have confirmed they are safe.  

FSANZ has a process for how they regulate the safety of food additives while the FAO has a list of all food additives and their uses in food products.

Why use sweeteners?

In addition to being safe, there are also some benefits to consuming non-sugar sweeteners in place of sugar.

One benefit is the effect it may have on weight management. When substituted with sugar, low- and no-kilojoule sweeteners can help limit carbohydrate and energy intake as part of a strategy to manage weight.

They can also be a useful tool for people with diabetes seeking to manage their blood sugar levels. Non-nutritive sweeteners including aspartame, sucralose and stevia, do not have an effect on blood glucose levels and may be a useful alternative for replacing added sugar.

Which sweeteners does Coca‑Cola Australia use?

Coca‑Cola Australia uses four primary sweeteners as sugar replacements; stevia leaf, aspartame, acesulfame potassium and sucralose.

• Stevia is derived from a plant whose leaf is a unique source of intense, natural sweetness. Stevia is 200 times sweeter than regular sugar, and is worth zero kilojoules.
• Aspartame is composed of two amino-acids. It is 80-200 times sweeter than regular sugar and a low-kilojoule option.
• Acesulfame potassium is a crystalised, low-kilojoule sweetener approximately 200 times sweeter than regular sugar.
• Sucralose is derived from sugar, but is 600 sweeter than sugar. It is a no-kilojoule sweetener.

These four products are used in varying amounts to create the great taste of many of the Coca‑Cola drinks you know and love.

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