Coca-Cola Debuts 'Natural' Version of Its Flagship Brand

ATLANTA -- Based on its advertising campaigns, we already know Coca-Cola is the "real thing." Now, Atlanta-based The Coca-Cola Co.'s latest product means the company can be called the "natural thing" as well.

The beverage giant announced it will introduce Coca-Cola Life, a new cola that is sweetened with sugar and the naturally occurring, zero-calorie sweetener stevia. The soda will contain half the calories of a regular Coke and will first be sold in Argentina.

According to Reuters,, Coca-Cola has used stevia in 45 products to date, including Vitaminwater Zero and Fanta Select, but never in its flagship brand.

Competitor PepsiCo Inc. has also used stevia, a plant native to Paraguay, in drinks for many years. However, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi has stated on several occasions that stevia does not work well in colas.

It is unknown if and when Coca-Cola Life will be sold in the United States. A global rollout seems likely though, Consumer Edge Research analyst Bill Pecoriello told the news outlet.

At a Buenos Aires, Argentina, news conference to introduce Coca-Cola Life, the company likened the launch to its 2005 debut of Coca-Cola Zero. That soda was introduced in Australia and is now a mainstay in America.