# If Tab and Diet Coke are the same, why different caffeine content?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [March 25, 2005, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127 "2005-03-25T01:46:03Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@chefIL11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefIL11)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/1 "2005-03-25T01:46:03Z")
IIRC, I read on the SDMB awhile back that tab and diet coke are the same, marketed differently as to not deter customers with the term “Diet” (even though I think that would attract people)
In any case, I was reading and I noticed [Here](http://www.erowid.org/chemicals/caffeine/caffeine_info1.shtml) that Tab has 46.8 mgs of caffeine per 12 ozs while Diet Coke has an even 45 mgs per 12 ozs… now, I understand it is a minor difference, but shouldn’t it be the same… or are tab and diet coke different concoctions?
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### Author:  [@x-ray\_vision](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/x-ray_vision)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/2 "2005-03-25T02:09:13Z")
According to [Cecil](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_193.html), the are _virtually_ identical.
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### Author:  [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/3 "2005-03-25T02:09:29Z")
This should be in the Comments forum.
[What’s the difference between Diet Coke and Tab?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_193.html)
> [@](#):
>
> For practical purposes the difference between Tab and Diet Coke is that they come in different-colored cans. While the **two products are somewhat different in taste** (Diet Coke is marginally more palatable, to my way of thinking), both are basically low-calorie colas.
Bolding added.
They taste like two different kinds of nasty to me.
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### Author:  [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/4 "2005-03-25T03:04:00Z")
Diet Coke is sweetened with Aspartame/NutraSweet, and Tab is (or was, at least) sweetened with Saccharine. Pepsi One is sweetened with whatever the newest thing is (sucralose? Splenda?) and oddly enough tastes just like Tab, even though I suspect it’s marketed to men.
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### Author:  [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/5 "2005-03-25T07:51:34Z")
They Do Not Taste The Same Because Saccharine Does Not Taste The Same As Nutrasweet.
Neither Does Cyclamates!!
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### Author:  [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/6 "2005-03-25T15:26:29Z")
My husband is one of those very rare birds - a _male_ Tab addict. So I pulled one of the cans out of his stash and here are the ingrediants:
carbonated water
caramel color
natural flavors\*
phosphoric acid
calcium saccharin
potassium benzoate\*\*
caffeine
aspartame
No calories
40mg of sodium per 12 ounce/355ml can
- There’s actual something _natural_ in Tab???
\*\* “to protect taste” it says. In my opinion - didn’t work
Anyone have a Diet Coke for comparison?
Anyone - while I can choke down Diet Coke, Tab makes me want to puke. It’s vile, disgusting, and horrible. Any my husband drinks the damn stuff constantly.
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### Author:  [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/7 "2005-03-25T15:32:10Z")
Another (male) Tab addict checking in. It is surely not the same cola. Tab is so chemically good, but Diet Coke is just weak and tasteless. They taste about the same as Pepsi and Coke do.
Mmmmm…chemicals.
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### Author:  [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/8 "2005-03-25T15:42:29Z")
From the can of Diet Coke next to my computer:
carbonated water
caramel color
aspartame
phosophoric acid
potassium benzoate
natural flavors
citric acid
caffeine
So it has citritc acid, no saccharin, and more aspartame…
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### Author:  [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/9 "2005-03-25T15:48:27Z")
I’m on a low-potassium diet. Does that mean I should avoid Tab (and other products with potassium benzoate in them)? Or does being bound up in potassium benzoate mean that I wouldn’t absorb the potassium?
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### Author:  [@PastAllReason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastAllReason)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/10 "2005-03-25T20:27:35Z")
I will say upfront that I am a self-confessed diet Coke drinker; it is my main source of caffeine intake. From my position,
> [@Cecil](#):
>
> For practical purposes the difference between Tab and Diet Coke is that they come in different-colored cans. While the two products are somewhat different in taste (Diet Coke is marginally more palatable, to my way of thinking), both are basically low-calorie colas.
is much the same as saying that all caffeinated diet soft drinks are the same. While the distinctions may be very small in the big picture, from the somewhat closer view of a regular consumer, they are very different. I have a preference for diet Coke over Tab over Diet Pepsi, etc., etc., much the same way that regular coffee consumers will have a preference for certain coffee beans, brands or methods of preparation.
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### Author:  [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/11 "2005-03-25T21:15:47Z")
People can find Tab in 2005? Where?
I thought Tab was retired around the early '90s or so…
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### Author:  [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/12 "2005-03-25T21:44:44Z")
> [@rjung](#):
>
> People can find Tab in 2005? Where?
>
> I thought Tab was retired around the early '90s or so…
I was wondering the same thing. I hope **Broomstick** checks back in to let us know! (Even though I wouldn’t buy Tab if I was in the Sahara, and it was all that was between me and deat by dehydration).
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### Author:  [@TV\_time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TV_time)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/13 "2005-03-25T22:04:34Z")
> [@rjung](#):
>
> People can find Tab in 2005? Where?
>
> I thought Tab was retired around the early '90s or so…
Another male Tab drinker here. My grocer special orders if for me.
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### Author:  [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/14 "2005-03-25T22:16:37Z")
Yep, the local Publix has Tab.
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### Author:  [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/15 "2005-03-25T22:55:12Z")
Diet Pepsi and Diet Coke are both sweetened with aspartame. The former is generally thought to be sweeter than the latter. The former has less caffeine than it’s sugared counterpart, while the latter has more. The latter has about 25% more caffeine than the former. The former’s sugared counterpart has more caffeine than the latter’s.
Why in the _Hell_ any of this is so, I have no idea.
[Citey-Cite](http://wilstar.com/caffeine.htm)
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### Author:  [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)
#### Post date: [March 25, 2005, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/16 "2005-03-25T23:16:50Z")
> [@](#):
>
> I’m on a low-potassium diet. Does that mean I should avoid Tab (and other products with potassium benzoate in them)? Or does being bound up in potassium benzoate mean that I wouldn’t absorb the potassium?
The benzoate probably wouldn’t make any difference, but we’re talking about truly minute quantities here. It’s listed even after the saccharine, and that’s already a mere trace. There’s probably more potassium in your tap water.
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### Author:  [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2005, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/17 "2005-03-26T00:09:11Z")
> [@norinew](#):
>
> I was wondering the same thing. I hope **Broomstick** checks back in to let us know!
Just so long as you keep in mind it’s MR Broomstick who’s the Tab-a-holic, not me.
According to him, the gentleman who originally developed the Tab formula did not actually sell it to Coca-Cola, he sort of leased it, and the deal expired in 2000. Apparently, it might have just lapsed but enough Tab fanatics sent up a hue and cry, a new deal was negotiated, and production resumed. I can neither confirm nor deny that story, however, it would account for a rather tense couple of months in early 2000 when the Broomstick household was unable to obtain supplies and the Mr had to go cold turkey.
We can get it at three local stores around here: Meijer’s, Jewel, and Strack-and-Van-Til’s, although not at all their locations. Many grocer’s are willing to special order this sort of thing if you ask nicely.
Finally, [this website](http://home.epix.net/~tjwagner/tab.html) contains more information on Tab, including where to buy it on-line, if you so desire.
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### Author:  [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2005, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/18 "2005-03-26T00:16:39Z")
Geez, around here Tab disappeared in the early 80s, along with Farrah hair and day-glo roller skates.
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### Author:  [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/19 "2005-03-26T01:02:42Z")
Shopkeeper: I must warn you the doll is cursed.
Homer Simpson: That’s bad.
Shopkeeper: But it comes with a free frogurt!
Homer Simpson: That’s good.
Shopkeeper: The frogurt is also cursed.
Homer Simpson: That’s bad!
Shopkeeper: But it comes with a free choice of toppings!
Homer Simpson: That’s good!
Shopkeeper: The toppings contain sodium benzoate.
[Homer looks puzzled.]
Shopkeeper: That’s bad.
Homer Simpson: Can I go now?
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### Author:  [@chefIL11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chefIL11)
#### Post date: [March 26, 2005, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-tab-and-diet-coke-are-the-same-why-different-caffeine-content/296127/20 "2005-03-26T01:51:09Z")
Just went to kroger to get some tab and do a taste test with diet coke… well, there was no tab to be found… any ideas where to get it? walmart seems to have everything. any ideas if its there?
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