Minute Maid, a brand of Coca-Cola Co., is getting creative in the refrigerated beverage segment. One new line, made with 5 percent juice, contains high-intensity sweeteners in combination with high-fructose corn syrup. Three offerings—Lemonade with Mint, Peach with Ginger and Spicy Watermelon Lemonade--come in 59-oz. plastic bottles and rely on stevia leaf extract. The latter combines the sweet taste of watermelon with just a hint of jalapeño flavor to give this drink a surprising kick. An 8-oz. glass of any of these three varieties contains 100 calories and 25g sugar.
The same package is used for two new light (85 percent fewer calories) drinks: Fruit Punch and Watermelon Blueberry. The use of acesulfame potassium and aspartame reduces calories to 15 per 8-oz. serving. There’s also Blueberry Lemonade, which comes in 59-oz. gabletop cartons. This variety is sweetened with sucralose, providing each 8-oz. serving with 90 calories and 24g sugar.
All of the new beverages rely on fruit and vegetable juice for color. Sold in the refrigerated dairy case alongside other perishable beverages, the preservative-free, naturally flavored drinks have a seven to 10-day shelflife after opening.