Jeffrey Salazar
Dr Pepper, a unique carbonated soft drink, was first created in the 1880s by pharmacist Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas, and was nationally marketed in the United States in 1904. The diet version of the drink, Diet Dr Pepper, was introduced in 1963, following the launch of the first diet soda in 1949. Diet Dr Pepper contains no sugar and has zero calories, and is said to have the same unique taste as the original Dr Pepper.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Introduction | 1963 (as "Dietetic Dr. Pepper") |
| Calories | 0 |
| Caffeine Content | 29 mg per 250 mL |
| Sugar Content | 0 |
| Kosher | Yes |
| Year of Name Change to "Diet Dr. Pepper" | 1986 |
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What You'll Learn
Diet Dr Pepper was released in 1963
The history of Dr Pepper goes back to the 1880s, when it was created by American pharmacist Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas. It was first nationally marketed in the United States in 1904 and is now the second highest-selling carbonated soft drink in the country.
Over half a century later, in 1963, Diet Dr Pepper was released. It was originally called "Dietetic Dr. Pepper" and was later renamed "Sugar Free Dr. Pepper" before becoming "Diet Dr. Pepper". However, sales were initially slow due to the misconception that it was intended solely for diabetic consumption.
The same year that Diet Dr Pepper was introduced, The Coca-Cola Company launched Tab, and Pepsi followed with Patio Diet Cola (soon renamed Diet Pepsi). The diet soft drink market had emerged four years earlier, in 1958, when Royal Crown Cola introduced Diet Rite.
The original Diet Dr Pepper was sweetened with cyclamates and saccharin, but this soon proved problematic. In 1969, it was discovered that a cyclamate combination caused bladder cancer in laboratory rats, and the FDA banned the use of cyclamate in food and drink products. Diet sodas were reformulated with saccharin alone, but the market share of these drinks rapidly declined as consumers did not like the metallic aftertaste.
In the 1980s, further studies linked saccharin to cancer, and most manufacturers switched to aspartame. Aspartame-sweetened Diet Coke, introduced in 1982, was highly successful and accelerated the trend towards aspartame-based diet drinks.
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It was renamed from 'Dietetic Dr. Pepper'
Diet Dr Pepper was introduced in 1963 as "Dietetic Dr. Pepper". It was the fourth diet soda to enter the market, preceded by Diet Rite (Royal Crown Cola), Tab (Coca-Cola), and Patio Diet Cola (Pepsi).
The name "Dietetic Dr. Pepper" was later changed to "Sugar Free Dr. Pepper", and eventually, "Diet Dr. Pepper". The slow sales of Diet Dr Pepper in its early years have been attributed to the misconception that it was intended solely for diabetic consumption.
The era of diet beverages began in 1949 with the launch of La Casera (also known as Gaseosa) in Madrid, Spain. This was followed by the development of No-Cal ginger ale in 1952, which was formulated for diabetic and otherwise sugar-restricted hospital patients. However, the diet beverage era did not take off until the 1960s when more companies entered the market and targeted a wider audience.
The original diet sodas used cyclamate and saccharin as sweeteners, but in 1969, it was discovered that a cyclamate combination caused bladder cancer in laboratory rats. This led to a ban on cyclamate in food and drink products, effective in 1970. Diet sodas were reformulated with saccharin alone, but the market share of diet sodas rapidly declined as consumers did not like the metallic aftertaste.
In the 1980s, further studies linked saccharin to cancer, and most manufacturers switched to aspartame by 1983. Aspartame-sweetened Diet Coke, introduced in 1982, accelerated the trend toward aspartame-sweetened diet beverages. Today, "diet" is nearly synonymous with the use of aspartame in beverages in the United States.
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It was slow to sell due to a diabetic association
Diet Dr Pepper was introduced in 1963 as "Dietetic Dr. Pepper", later renamed "Sugar-Free Dr. Pepper" and then "Diet Dr. Pepper". Despite being the third major company to introduce a diet soft drink to the market, it sold slowly due to the misconception that it was meant solely for diabetic consumption.
Indeed, diet sodas were typically marketed for those with diabetes or who wished to reduce their sugar or caloric intake. The diet beverage era began in 1949 with the launch of La Casera in Madrid, Spain, which used cyclamate as a sweetener. This was followed by the development of No-Cal ginger ale in 1952, which was formulated by Hyman and Morris Kirsch of Kirsch Beverages for diabetic and otherwise sugar-restricted hospital patients, also using cyclamate calcium as a sweetener.
In 1962, Royal Crown Cola introduced Diet Rite, which quickly became the fourth-best-selling soda in the US. The Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo soon followed with their own diet soft drinks, Tab and Patio Diet Cola (renamed Diet Pepsi), respectively.
However, in 1969, it was discovered that a cyclamate combination caused bladder cancer in laboratory rats, leading to a ban on the use of cyclamate in food and drink products. This caused a rapid decline in the market share of diet sodas, as consumers did not tolerate the metallic aftertaste of saccharin, the alternative sweetener. It wasn't until the 1980s when aspartame was introduced as a sweetener that the market for diet sodas began to recover.
Today, "diet" is nearly synonymous with the use of aspartame in beverages in the United States. Advantame, a derivative of aspartame, is safe for individuals with phenylketonuria and does not require a phenylalanine warning label. Other sweeteners used in diet drinks include saccharin, sucralose, cyclamates (outside the US), acesulfame potassium, and stevia.
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Dr Pepper is the oldest major US soft drink brand
The origins of the name "Dr. Pepper" are disputed. One theory is that the drink was named after an actual doctor, Charles T. Pepper of Rural Retreat, Virginia. Morrison may have named the drink after the doctor in gratitude for giving him his first job or for granting him permission to marry Pepper's daughter. Another theory is that the name was chosen because, at the time, it was common to include "Dr." in product names to convey the impression that they were healthful. Early advertisements for the drink made medical claims, stating that it "aids digestion and restores vim, vigour, and vitality".
Over the years, Dr Pepper's advertising slogans have included "Drink a bite to eat at 10, 2, and 4", "the friendly Pepper-Upper", "the most misunderstood soft drink", "the most original soft drink ever in the whole wide world", "Be a Pepper", and "Be You". The drink has also been associated with rock and roll music, particularly through its presence on Dick Clark's American Bandstand TV show.
Dr Pepper is manufactured by Keurig Dr Pepper in the United States and Canada, by The Coca-Cola Company in the United Kingdom, Japan, and South Korea, and by PepsiCo in Europe. Variants include Diet Dr Pepper, which contains no sugar but has the same amount of caffeine as Regular Dr Pepper (29 mg per 250 mL serving).
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It was created in 1885 by pharmacist Charles Alderton
Dr Pepper, the soft drink, was created in 1885 by pharmacist Charles Alderton. Alderton worked at a drugstore in Waco, Texas, owned by Wade Morrison. The drink was first served at Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store in 1885. The name "Dr. Pepper" was first used commercially in the same year, preceding the introduction of Coca-Cola by one year.
The drink was formulated by Brooklyn-born pharmacist Charles Alderton, who first offered it to Morrison, the store owner. Morrison liked it and soon, patrons at Morrison's soda fountain learned of Alderton's new drink and began ordering a "Waco". Alderton gave the formula to Morrison, who named it Dr. Pepper. Early advertisements for the drink made medical claims, stating that it "aids digestion and restores vim, vigour, and vitality."
The origin of the name "Dr. Pepper" is unknown. One theory is that Morrison named the drink after an actual doctor, Charles T. Pepper of Rural Retreat, Virginia. Morrison may have named the drink after the doctor in gratitude for Pepper giving Morrison his first job. Another theory suggests that Morrison named the drink after the father of a young girl he was once in love with.
Dr Pepper was introduced nationally at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition and was first nationally marketed in the United States in the same year. It is the oldest major soft drink brand in America. The formula for Dr Pepper is a trade secret, and the recipe is allegedly kept as two halves in safe deposit boxes in two separate Dallas banks.
The diet version of Dr Pepper, "Dietetic Dr. Pepper", was released in 1963. It was later renamed Sugar Free Dr. Pepper and then Diet Dr. Pepper.
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Frequently asked questions
Diet Dr Pepper was released in 1963, a year after the introduction of Diet Rite by Royal Crown Cola.
The original Dr Pepper was created in the 1880s and was first nationally marketed in the United States in 1904.
Diet Dr Pepper has zero calories.
Diet Dr Pepper contains 29 mg of caffeine per 250 mL.
