Not the worst possible choices

Dasani vending machine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC

Dasani vending machine, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC (Detail)

Consumers are paying more attention to the perceived evils of sugar-filled foods and beverages.  I was intrigued to see that this vending machine, at the Vancouver General Hospital, offered a number of non-carbonated and lower calorie offerings.

Not that all of the offerings are on my list of prefered beverages. I dislike the artificial sweeteners in Coke Zero, Diet Coke, and Fresca both for their aftertaste and the chemical load that they place on your body. And Dasani is just tap water in an expensive package.

But the most interesting omission is that although sugar-laden Canada Dry Ginger Ale is for sale, regular Coke is not available. Has the Coca-Cola company's flagship product become such as pariah?