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Coca-Cola says coronavirus could impact supply of sweeteners used in Diet Coke, other drinks

No short-term diet soda shortage expected
Posted at 2:23 PM, Feb 27, 2020
and last updated 2020-02-27 15:23:39-05

Coca-Cola is feeling the impact of COVID-19, better known as coronavirus.

The company says the disease has already disrupted its supply chain, and artificial sweeteners from China could be in shorter supply if the outbreak continues.

Coca-Cola announced Monday as part of their annual report that they have initiated contingent supply plans for the near future, and don't foresee any short-term impact.

"We do not anticipate a shortage of Diet Coke or Coke Zero related to sucralose because those products do not contain sucralose," Coca-Cola said in a statement. "We have initiated contingency supply plans for ingredients sourced from China, and we do not expect any impact to our customers or consumers at this time."

In their annual report, Coca-Cola indicated that it considered sucralose — the sugar substiute used in products such as Powerade Zero and Diet Coke with Splenda — a "critical raw material" sourced from suppliers in the US and China, according to CNN.