# diet coke/tab **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [May 23, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-coke-tab/177011 "2003-05-23T12:41:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ppktrk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/0ea827/32.png) [@ppktrk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ppktrk)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-coke-tab/177011/1 "2003-05-23T12:41:51Z")
I believe that you have some facts wrong. Tab predates diet coke and diet pepsi. Additionally there is a difference in sweeteners - tab uses saccarin while diet coke uses aspertame. ---
**Author:** ![Han\_Lee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ed8c4c/32.png) [@Han\_Lee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Han_Lee)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2003, 1:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-coke-tab/177011/2 "2003-05-23T13:04:33Z")
Another fact not to be ignored: Diet Coke contains caffeine and Tab is caffeine free. ---
**Author:** ![butler1850](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@butler1850](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butler1850)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-coke-tab/177011/3 "2003-05-28T18:02:05Z")
On this same note, why aren’t more diet sodas using Splenda? (new sweetener, doesn’t give my wife headaches like Aspertame) WaistWatchers soda uses it (available in the NorthEast anyway), but has no caffiene, so it’s a no go for me. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2003, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/diet-coke-tab/177011/4 "2003-05-28T20:35:42Z")
What facts are wrong? In the [original column](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_193.html), Cecil does indeed say that Tab came first.