Coca-Cola could be in tight supply of artificial sweetener for diet and zero-sugar drinks

[brooklynite]

Source: CNN

Coca-Cola says coronavirus has disrupted its supply chain, and artificial sweeteners from China could be in shorter supply if the outbreak continues to spread.

Production and exports have been delayed for Coke's suppliers of sugar alternatives used in the company's diet and zero-sugar drinks, Coca-Cola disclosed Monday as part of its annual report.

"We have initiated contingency supply plans and do not foresee a short-term impact due to these delays," Coca-Cola wrote in the filing. "However, we may see tighter supplies of some of these ingredients in the longer term should production or export operations in China deteriorate."

The primary artificial sweeteners Coca-Cola (KO) uses in its products include aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose, saccharin, cyclamate and steviol gylcosides. In its annual report, Coca-Cola indicated that it considered sucralose — the sugar substitute better known as Splenda and used in products such as Powerade Zero and Diet Coke with Splenda — a "critical raw material" sourced from suppliers in the US and China.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/25/business/coca-cola-coronavirus-artificial-sweeteners/index.html

[OhZone]

1. Where does Stevia come from?

I think it's supposed to better than the artifical ones anyway!

[jberryhill]

3. Plants

There is no way to swap in stevia for aspartame and sucralose. Orders of magnitude difference between production volume.

[OhZone]

6. Plants from where doe?

[jberryhill]

13. From seeds, in the ground

Originally from Brazil and Paraguay, but now......

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevia


As of 2006, China was the world's largest exporter of stevioside products.

Which brings us back to doe.

[OhZone]

14. Doe!

Doh!

[img][/img]

[xxqqqzme]

22. For a number of years

Peosi's lemon-lime Sierra Mist was sweetened with stevia, Then suddenly they went back to HFCS. No more Sierra Mist in our house.

[patphil]

17. It's grown in many countries around the world, including the United States and China.

[OhZone]

19. yay

[Ohiogal]

2. Uh oh

What will this mean for Diet Coke swilling Donnie?

[Retrograde]

4. Tip of the iceberg

How much of what we take for granted is sourced from China, either directly or indirectly as components?

Despite what some of my cola-addicted friends seem to believe, we can live without sugar substitutes. We can't live as easily without other China products - like prescription drugs or a lot of electronics components. But hey, Wall Street made some pretty big bugs sourcing everything to one country.

[KT2000]

8. Greed has to be satisfied

That is what China knows about the US and they were able to work it to their benefit.

[Apollo Zeus]

16. Insulin comes from PR, many things made in Vietnam now

as China's costs increased steadily over the last 10 years.

But I agree the supply chain issues are just starting to be admitted to. I think the move with putting Pence in front of further info is designed to stop the stock market meltdown and to let insiders play the info before it goes public. Trump nearly said as much.

[jayfish]

5. Translation:

"We're going to gouge the f outta you." Soda is already overpriced.

[OhZone]

7. I can live on seltzer!

Better for ya anyway!

[jayfish]

10. OMFG!

Seltzer is the worst! As an aside, you might enjoy White Claw.

[cstanleytech]

11. They might not do that though as soda sales have been in the decline as people switch to alternative

drinks which means raising prices could potentially cost them even more customers.
Best option might be for them to suck it up and simply be satisfied with a slightly smaller profit.

[jayfish]

12. They Are Dumb.

Soda sales have been in decline precisely because Big Soda is a bunch of greedy pricks. They will raise the price and the telltale will be that they do it across the board and not just on products that use the, potentially, scarce artificial sweeteners.

[Sloumeau]

9. If only there were something besides Coke that people could drink. :) nt

[jberryhill]

15. BRAWNDO

[GoneOffShore]

24. The favorite drink of Vogons in all parts of the known galaxy!

[tinymontgomery]

20. Wine, perforable Red Blend n/t

[Totally Tunsie]

18. The WH must be pulling in a stockpile of Coke

to keep "the boss-idiot" refreshed, invigorated and happy. Can you imagine the tirade if Chump pushed the Coke button on his desk and none was forthcoming?

[LuckyLib]

21. Sorry, Coke. We're busy at the moment -- bigger fish to fry.

[OldBaldy1701E]

23. and Big Sugar dances on their diabetes removed leg stumps...

you just know they are smiling from ear to ear right about now... I mean, its not like they add obscene amounts of their product to everything. Look, when a half gallon of milk has more (added) sugar than a sleeve of fig newtons... that should tell you where we are headed. And, keep in mind that Big Sugar is constantly trying to say they have nothing to do with diabetes or any of the long term health risks associated with such levels of consumption. Levels they take great strides in to hide from the public, even as it has had to deal with more progressive administrations' attempts to make them more accountable.