The Soda of Tomorrow, Today. Looking back at the Evolution of Soda.
Pop? Soda? Soda pop? Whatever you like to call it everyone knows what you’re talking about. A simple Google search on soda will pull up lots of interesting articles, facts, and questions. The number one Google auto complete result for the search “is soda….”(drumroll please); is soda bad for you? We’ve been seeing soda commercials since we were children. They appear at every super bowl commercial break. It’s found in gas stations, supermarkets, and restaurants. Everyone seems to look for an afternoon pick me up in the form of diet soda. No doubt the popularity is there but is it good for you? We are now more concerned with health and what’s in our food more than ever before. The more we learn about health the more we want to fuel our bodies and take care of them. We are in this for the long run. Let’s take a look at the evolution of soda from a fun treat to #bubbleswithbenefits.
1960s:
Soda has been around since the 1800’s but really took on popularity in the 1960’s. Soda was known for its refreshment factor. It was high in sugar and high in taste. All was fine until research started being done on how sugar affects our bodies. People wanted something refreshing without all the sugar and calories that they had been hearing were bad for their health.
1980s:
In the 1980’s diet soda was on the rise. It was the “right” product at the right time. First made for diabetics in the 1960’s, and then eventually marketed to women to help them stay slim, was the “healthier” beverage people were looking for. Diet soda held all sorts of promises for consumers. It claimed that it still held great taste, helped with weight management, didn’t promote tooth decay, was economical, and was helpful in managing diabetes. It got rid of the sugar but left consumers with artificial sweeteners and artificial taste. As we now know, artificial sweeteners can have many side effects on our bodies in many areas including cognition, headaches, mood and depression. We also saw the addition of high-fructose corn syrup instead of sugar. It’s still used today as studies have shown that no one could tell a difference in taste.
2000s:
In the mid 2000’s we saw yet another shift in the soda industry. A new diet soda claiming to taste like the original without all the sugar. They were once again trying to take their brand as close to the original flavor but without all the sugar. We were learning more all the time that too much sugar in a persons diet can lead to a greater risk of death from heart disease and other complications. They were clearly trying to evolve their brand constantly to give healthier options to their consumers but they kept missing the mark. Consumers wanted something better for them, not just a beverage with fewer calories.
2020s:
Today, we are at a point where we want our drinks to do something for us. We want the food we put into our body to help us feel better, not just get us through the day. There has definitely been a shift in beverage and food companies to provide consumers with better-for-you products. What soda couldn’t quite evolve to, poppi could. Poppi came on the market at the perfect time to provide us with a functional soda and we are so glad you’re here. Poppi is the future of soda where you can feel good about what’s in your can. With 90% less sugar, real fruit juice, and clean ingredients we are sure you’ll swap #basicsforbenefits. Stay tuned for an upcoming announcement to make that swap even easier. No need to sacrifice health for flavor anymore.
Links:
1. https://www.cyclamate.org/benefits.html
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC561712
3. https://www.health.harvard.edu/heart-health/the-sweet-danger-of-sugar