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The Coca-Cola Company / PepsiCo / Dr Pepper / RC Cola
Discontinued: Late 1950s
The first diet soda was invented in 1952 when Kirsch Beverages created No-Cal Ginger Ale for diabetic patients at a Brooklyn hospital. Although this diet soda was originally just for diabetics, the saccharin-laced drink launched the entire diet soda industry as we know it.
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Discontinued: 2024
Royal Crown Cola reinvented the diet soda market in 1962 with Diet Rite Cola. Unlike previous diet drinks marketed to diabetics, RC targeted weight-conscious consumers, particularly women. By 1960, Diet-Rite was the fourth-best-selling soft drink in the country, trailing only Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and 7 Up.
Discontinued: 1964
Before Diet Pepsi, there was Patio Diet Cola, launched in 1964 and swiftly rebranded the following year.
Discontinued: 2020
TaB was the Coca-Cola Company's first diet soda, introduced in 1963. It was a hit among women in the 1960s and 1970s as a way to lose weight. Several variations were made, including fruit-flavored, root beer, and ginger ale versions. It survived for 57 years before being replaced forever due to the popularity of Diet Coke.
Discontinued: 1969
Like was 7 Up’s first diet soda, but it was quickly canned due to its infamous main ingredient, cyclamate. The sweetener was later removed from the formulation and relaunched as Diet 7 Up.
Discontinued: early 1990s
When Hubba Bubba sodas were launched in the 1980s, they came in sugar and diet forms. The original supposedly tasted incredibly sweet, like a can of candy, while the diet version was sweetened with the artificial sweetener aspartame.
Discontinued: 1988
7 Up Gold was first introduced in 1988. It came in the original and diet version. This was the first 7 Up cola that was caffeinated. Not long after its release, the soda was discontinued due to poor sales. People expected a lemon-lime caffeine free drink, only to get subpar cola.
Discontinued: 1990
In August 1989, PepsiCo test-marketed Pepsi A.M. alongside its Diet Pepsi, aiming at coffee drinkers. Shortly after its introduction, a year of production, Pepsi A.M. and its Diet version ceased production as folks preferred real coffee to soda for breakfast.
Discontinued: 1994
Crystal Pepsi was marketed as a caffeine-free "clear alternative" to normal colas. By late 1993, it and its Diet version were discontinued. This was part of the failed clear trend of the 1990s.
Discontinued: 1993
TaB Clear was Coca-Cola as an answer to Crystal Pepsi. Crazily, TaB Clear was designed to fail and bring down Crystal Pepsi with it. According to Coca-Cola's chief marketing officer, Sergio Zyman, TaB Clear was released at the same time as an intentional "kamikaze" effort to create an unpopular beverage that was positioned as an analog of Crystal Pepsi to"kill both in the process."
Discontinued: 2007
Dr Pepper Berries & Cream and its diet version were released in April 2006. They were the second beverage in Dr Pepper's "Soda Fountain Classics" line of drinks. A year later, both versions were discontinued.
Discontinued: 2009
Diet Pepsi Jazz came in three flavors: Black Cherry and French Vanilla, Caramel Cream, and Strawberries and Cream. In early 2008, Diet Pepsi Jazz was discontinued so PepsiCo could focus more on Diet Pepsi Max.
Discontinued: 2007
Black Cherry Vanilla Coke and its Diet Coke form only existed briefly. Its complex flavor failed to resonate with consumers.
Discontinued: 2011
Diet Coke Plus (also known as Coca-Cola Light Plus) was a Diet cola formulation fortified with vitamins and minerals. It was only available in the United Kingdom in October 2007 and came in two versions: one with vitamins B3, B12, and vitamin C and the other containing antioxidants with added green tea and vitamin C.
Discontinued: 2009
In 2005, under pressure from retailer Walmart, Coca-Cola released a new formulation called "Diet Coke sweetened with Splenda." Though Splenda sweetener was trendy at the time, this Diet Coke didn’t penetrate the market much.
Discontinued: 2018
Diet Coke Lime was actually quite popular after its introduction in 2004. When news broke of its discontinuation, fans were in disbelief.
Discontinued: 2020
In 2018, Coca-Cola tried to rebrand its Diet Coke toward millennials. Diet Coke Feisty Cherry was the answer, coming in a new Diet Coke lineup with cool skinny cans. But the kids just weren’t buying it.
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