Companies Are Pulling This Word Off Their Labels Because Younger People Don’t Like It

Soda companies are scrambling to keep young consumers hooked, but they’re facing a major hurdle: the rise of body positivity and the growing rejection of diet culture. Social media has played a key role in this shift, as more people embrace their natural bodies rather than striving for the ideals pushed by plastic surgery and celebrity culture. As a result, soda companies are working hard to counter the widespread belief that their drinks are unhealthy, and that “diet” sodas contribute to negative body image.

In response, major brands like Canada Dry, 7Up, and A&W are ditching the word “diet” from their labels, replacing it with “zero sugar” in an attempt to appeal to younger generations. These new labels are popping up across the country, part of a broader effort to attract young consumers who are increasingly rejecting anything associated with diet culture.

“Younger people just don’t like the word ‘diet,’” said Greg Lyons, chief marketing officer at PepsiCo Beverages North America, in an interview with CNN.

Pepsi has been ahead of the curve, selling its zero-sugar soda for years. In 2016, the company rebranded Pepsi Max as Pepsi Zero Sugar around the time Donald Trump became the first reality TV star to be elected president.

“No Gen Z wants to be on a diet these days,” Lyons explained. “It’s about the freedom to choose what they want without feeling guilty.”

Canada Dry is following suit, renaming its diet ginger ale as “ginger zero,” while A&W has rebranded its calorie-free root beer as a “zero sugar drink.” According to A&W Brand President Susan Senecal, customers had been questioning for years why the product was still called a diet beverage.

“Zero Sugar Diet Ginger Ale is a clear example of how we’re offering choices and helping people find what works for them,” Senecal told CNN.

While anti-diet culture advocates aren’t necessarily opposed to dieting itself, they resist the idea that anyone but themselves should dictate how much sugar they consume. People want the freedom to decide for themselves what’s right for their bodies, without feeling pressured by societal standards.

The new labels are rolling out in stores to avoid backlash against the companies, but whether this rebranding will succeed remains to be seen. It’s possible that consumers will see through it as a marketing ploy and continue to reject diet culture. Only time will tell if soda companies can adapt to the changing attitudes or if they’ll find themselves losing even more ground in the battle for consumer loyalty.