Diet Rite
Diet Rite is a brand of no-calorie soft drinks originally distributed by the RC Cola company. It was introduced in 1958 and initially released as a dietetic product, but was marketed to the general public as a healthful beverage in 1962. The original formula was sweetened with cyclamate and saccharin. By 1969, the Food and Drug Administration banned cyclamate, forcing the beverage to be reformulated with saccharin. Diet Rite was reformulated in 1983 to eliminate sodium, making it the first sodium-free diet soda. In 1987, after having used a blend of the two sweeteners, the saccharin was replaced entirely with NutraSweet brand aspartame and eliminating caffeine altogether. In the 1990s, several fruit-flavored varieties of Diet Rite were introduced. In 2000, the line was reformulated yet again, this time to replace aspartame with Splenda brand sucralose and Sunett brand Acesulfame potassium. It became the first major diet soda in the United States to use neither aspartame nor saccharin as a sweetener. In 2005, "Pure Zero" was added to the name, and a cherry cola flavor was introduced in 2006.
Straight steel, pull top
1970's
Straight steel, pull top
Straight steel, pull top
1970's
Straight steel, pull top
Still sealed
Straight steel, pull top
Still sealed
Crimped steel, pull top
Aluminum, tab top
1975
Straight steel, pull top
Straight steel, pull top
1981
National taste test winner
National taste test winner
1993
Win Pop Tunes
Win Pop Tunes
silver top
gold top
Late 1990's