The Mason Minute

The Mason Minute


Diet Rite (MM #5141)

April 19, 2025

Diet soda is a big business. It has been for decades. Today, everyone loves Diet Coke or Diet Pepsi. But they weren’t the first, not even close. Coke first gave us Tab. Pepsi offered the short-lived Patio. However, the first brand that paved the way for artificially sweetened soft drinks was created by RC Cola in the 50s. It was called Diet Rite. I say ‘was”, because Dr Pepper/Keurig, the company that most recently owned the brand, has quietly pulled the plug. It started regionally in 1958 and went nationwide in 1962. Within a year, it was the fourth best-selling soda brand behind Coke, Pepsi, and RC…






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