Coca-Cola warns of impact on Diet Coke supply chain

Coronavirus could mean bad luck for Diet Coke lovers.

Coca-Cola said on Monday that its supply chain could be disrupted as Covid-19 continues to spread. The beverage manufacturer depends on suppliers in China for certain sweeteners added to its diet and zero sugar drinks.

The company said it relies on suppliers in the U.S. and China for a “critical raw material” known as sucralose, used in sweeteners such as Splenda. Other artificial sweeteners like aspartame and acesulfame potassium are also used to add flavor to Diet Coke, Coke Zero and other drinks without sugar.

“As a result of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 … our suppliers in China have experienced some delays in the production and export of these ingredients,” Coca-Cola wrote in an annual financial filing. “We have initiated contingency supply plans and do not foresee a short-term impact due to these delays.”

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The beverage manufacturer added that it may see “tighter supplies” of some of these sugar substitutes in the longer term. In a separate release, Coca-Cola announced that it’s donating to organizations that help people affected by the virus.

The Atlanta-based corporation has also taken precautionary measures to protect its workers in China, which includes providing face masks and hand sanitizer. China is one of the world’s largest consumers of Coca-Cola products, the company said in a release.