I know, typically you hear that on tv when there’s some lawyers looking for clients for some medicine that’s been killing folks. But that’s not what my consumer alert is about. Well, not entirely.
I have a rant. And it’s aimed at the folks at Sprite (AKA, the Coca-Cola Company). More specifically, my beef is with
the Marketing Department. Here, allow you to show you. You see that can there to the right? That’s Sprite Zero. If you’re not familiar with Sprite Zero, allow me to enlighten you. Starters, it has No Caffeine (a standard in Sprite, but I thought I’d mention it anyway). But the beauty of this product, is it has NO Sugar. A major, wham-bam-that’s-smoking-it’s-so-awesome little nugget of information because it also tastes great. Now, why am I so over the moon? Simple. I’m hypoglycemic. Which means my body doesn’t tolerate sugar all that great. Which means when I eat too much sugar, my body will crash out on me. 45 or so minutes after consuming too much sugar and you’ll see me slumped over asleep somewhere. That’s life and I’ve accepted it and my body’s probably a lot better off without getting all those sweets anyway.
But that’s beside the point. You see, I also like Sprite Zero because when I feel draggish, I can drink a Sprite Zero to perk me up since it has that pleasant popping zing of carbonation.
Herein lieth thy problem.
See my problem? The folks at Sprite has done a little remodeling. And the similarities between New Sprite can and Sprite Zero can are eerily similar. I know, I know, there’s that whole strip of midnight blue wrapped around the can. But when you’ve got brain fog going on in your head, you really can’t concentrate all that well. I’m here to tell you that you don’t notice minor background things. Things such as that strip of midnight blue. No indeed. What you do notice is the silver round the lip and that green and yellow thing in the center. Familiar Colors and pictures, that’s about all your mind can process when you’re in brain fog. Brain Fog=No Fun.
Does anyone know how many grams of Sugar is in a regular Sprite? Anyone? A few days ago, I couldn’t have told you. A few days ago, I didn’t know about this new label on Sprite. A few days ago, I was in a store looking for a Sprite Zero, getting a bit dizzy cause it was evening and I don’t neccissary function well in the evening time. Evenings for me are like a coffee addict in the morning before they’ve had their first two pots.
I saw the silver round the lip and that funny thing in the center and popped the top. 45 or so minutes later, I’m becoming a terrible state of affair. Vision is starting to blur. Thoughts consisting of more than simple things, such as, ‘oh that’s red’ and ‘look, that’s a neat looking triangle’, is about all I can handle. I chug some more Sprite, hoping that bubbly carbonation will help me out. I’m getting worse, my eyes are getting heavy. I reach for that Sprite again, but stop. The nutrition facts are staring at me. And what do I see in the Sugar column? Where there should be a 0g, I see a 38g.
Remember my simple thought processing? At this point, as I’m staring at the back of the can and holding my eyes open wide and, I swear to God, I thought I was hallucinating.
38g? No, that’s not right. Sprite Zero has ‘zero’ grams of everything, doesn’t it? Or have I been drinking a loaded sugar can for months? No, no I haven’t. I would have passed out several times instead of still going. Silver lip, funny thing in the center. What is the deal? Maybe I read it wrong. Nu-uh, 38g.
Now at this point, I’ve got my hand on my forehead, tugging my eyebrows up so my eyes will open wider, and hoping that will somehow bring about some sort of genius thought. And apparently it did. Because I turned the can around for a closer examination–eyes wide still–and what do I see? Or I suppose I should say, what do I not see? the word Zero. Tis nowhere to be found.
So I ended chopping down two bags of salted peanuts (lord in heaven, they must have dumped a gallon of salt in each bag) to compensate for my unintentional sugar binge.
What about you, has a change in product marketing ever bitten you? Anyone else drink Sprite Zero or have any other similar recommendations? What arguements out there for Diet Dr. Pepper really tasting like regular Dr. Pepper? Oh the things that keep a girl up at night….
Keri Ford
Keri, that’s awful! I have no idea why they change things. Sometimes I wonder just what those marketing people are “drinking” when they come up with this stuff. LOL
Luckily the only information I take in about sugar is that it adds calories, so I’m strictly a diet soda girl. Of which I drink more than is good for me, I freely admit. But repackaging is enough to drive you nuts — it’s almost always smaller/more expensive/something new and wonderful added when you liked the plain old stuff.
Melissa, Beppie, I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who doesn’t like new packaging! That kind of thing should be all over the TV!