Coca-Cola Malaysia has introduced Sprite with reduced sugar that also comes with the Healthier Choice logo. This is an example of how Coca-Cola Malaysia uses reformulation to prepare itself for the impending implementation of the sugar tax on 1 July 2019.
The sugar content has been lowered to 4.6ml per 100ml, which is below the threshold of the sugar tax. Under the sugar tax, the government will impose a 40 sen per litre excise duty on drinks that contain more than 5g of additional sugar or sweeteners per 100ml.
Coca-Cola Malaysia lowers the sugar by using artificial sweeteners acesulfame-K and sucralose but balances the sweet taste with sucrose.
The beverage giant has previously attempted with sugar-free Sprite by launching Sprite Zero to the Malaysian public at the end of 2016 but it was soon discontinued. In neighbouring Thailand, Sprite No-Sugar with the Healthier Choice logo was launched in April 2019. For the Malaysia market, a compromised seems to have been made to ensure consumers still have the familiar taste of Sprite albeit with a lower sugar content.
