Dr Pepper Zero Sugar vs Coke Zero: Caffeine (41 vs 34 mg)

TL;DR: Dr Pepper Zero Sugar lists approx. 41 mg of caffeine and 60 mg of sodium per 12 fl oz can; Coca-Cola Zero Sugar lists 34 mg and 40 mg. Both sweeten with aspartame and acesulfame potassium, and only Coca-Cola Zero Sugar lists stevia extract.

Dr Pepper Zero Sugar and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar both list 0 calories and 0 g sugar per 12 fl oz can, and both sweeten with aspartame and acesulfame potassium. The label differences that stand out per can are caffeine, sodium, preservatives, flavor wording, and whether stevia extract appears on the ingredient list. Dr Pepper Zero Sugar lists approx. 41 mg of caffeine and 60 mg of sodium, while Coca-Cola Zero Sugar lists 34 mg of caffeine and 40 mg of sodium.

Key takeaways

• Per 12 fl oz can, Dr Pepper Zero Sugar lists approx. 41 mg caffeine and 60 mg sodium, while Coca-Cola Zero Sugar lists 34 mg caffeine and 40 mg sodium. Both list 0 calories and 0 g sugar.
• Both sweeten with aspartame and acesulfame potassium. Stevia extract appears on the Coca-Cola Zero Sugar ingredient list on Coca-Cola's US product page but not on the Dr Pepper Zero Sugar label. An older Open Food Facts record omits it, so check the can.
• Preservatives and flavor wording differ: sodium benzoate, sodium phosphate and 'natural and artificial flavors' in Dr Pepper Zero Sugar, versus potassium benzoate, potassium citrate and 'natural flavors' in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar.
• Regulators take different positions on aspartame. IARC lists it as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B, July 2023), the FDA disagrees with that classification, and JECFA and EFSA kept an acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg body weight per day.

Dr Pepper Zero Sugar vs Coca-Cola Zero Sugar at a Glance: The 12 fl oz Can Table

Each figure below is per 12 fl oz can, the serving size listed on the Keurig Dr Pepper product facts page and Coca-Cola's Zero Sugar product page. 'Not listed' or 'not disclosed' means the item does not appear on the product pages referenced in this article.

Label item (per 12 fl oz can)	Dr Pepper Zero Sugar	Coca-Cola Zero Sugar
Calories	0	0
Total sugars / added sugars	0 g / 0 g	0 g / 0 g
Caffeine	Approx. 41 mg	34 mg
Sodium	60 mg (3% DV)	40 mg (2% DV)
Potassium	Not listed on panel	60 mg (2% DV)
Sweeteners listed	Aspartame, acesulfame potassium	Aspartame, acesulfame potassium, stevia extract
Preservative	Sodium benzoate	Potassium benzoate (to protect taste)
Phenylalanine label statement	Not shown on the product page	'PHENYLKETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE'

Sugar and calorie figures match on both panels. The differences appear in caffeine, sodium, preservatives, flavor wording and the stevia listing. For a broader look at how these sodas compare on sweeteners and acids, see The 5 Sodas People Scan Most: Sweeteners, Acids and Colors.

Caffeine Content: 41 mg vs 34 mg Per 12 fl oz Can

Does Dr Pepper Zero have more caffeine than Coke Zero?

Yes, a 12 fl oz can of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar lists approx. 41 mg of caffeine versus 34 mg in Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. Keurig Dr Pepper labels its figure as approx., and the 7 mg gap is about 21% above the Coca-Cola figure (derived arithmetic: 7 divided by 34, not a value printed on either label). Coca-Cola's page states 34 mg per 12-oz serving.

How much caffeine is in Dr Pepper Zero vs Coke Zero?

Dr Pepper Zero Sugar contains about 41 mg per 12 fl oz can, and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar contains 34 mg per 12-oz serving. Caffeine appears in the ingredient list of both cans, sixth on the Dr Pepper Zero Sugar list and ninth on the Coca-Cola Zero Sugar list. For the Coke side of this comparison, see Coke Zero vs Diet Coke: Ingredients, Taste and Caffeine (34 vs 46 mg).

Caffeine Reference Amount: 400 mg per Day Expressed in Can Counts

The FDA states 400 mg/day is not generally associated with negative effects in most adults. Simple division at the labeled amounts gives about 9.8 cans of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar (400 divided by 41) or about 11.8 cans of Coca-Cola Zero Sugar (400 divided by 34). These can figures are simple division and are not advice about how much to drink.

Caffeine also comes from coffee, tea, other beverages and some medicines, none of which are covered by these two labels. The FDA figure is a general reference for most healthy adults. Readers with health questions about caffeine should ask a clinician.

Sweeteners: Aspartame, Acesulfame Potassium and Stevia Extract Side by Side

Does Dr Pepper Zero Sugar have aspartame?

Yes, aspartame is the 4th ingredient listed on the Dr Pepper Zero Sugar label, after carbonated water, caramel color and phosphoric acid. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar also lists aspartame fourth. The FDA's acceptable daily intake for aspartame is 50 mg/kg body weight per day, and the FDA states that aspartame is approved for use in food as a sweetener and is about 200 times sweeter than table sugar.

The FDA says that people with phenylketonuria should avoid or restrict aspartame, so that group is a sensitive population that should read both labels closely.

Acesulfame potassium, often written as ace-K, appears on both labels. The FDA states it is approved as a sweetener, is about 200 times sweeter than table sugar, and is often combined with other sweeteners. Neither label discloses the milligrams of aspartame or acesulfame potassium per can.

Does Coke Zero have stevia?

Yes, the Coca-Cola Zero Sugar ingredient list on Coca-Cola's US product page includes stevia extract, listed last, in the 12 fl oz can. The purity and form of that stevia were not disclosed, and the page does not name the steviol glycosides in the extract. The Dr Pepper Zero Sugar label does not list stevia. An older Open Food Facts record leaves stevia out, so check the label on the can.

The FDA reports that steviol glycosides are 200 to 400 times sweeter than table sugar. It states that it has not questioned the GRAS conclusions for high-purity steviol glycosides with a minimum purity of 95%. It also says that stevia leaf and crude stevia extracts are not considered GRAS.

What Regulators Say About Aspartame and Acesulfame Potassium

Regulatory bodies have reached different positions, and none of them tests a specific can. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) placed aspartame in Group 2B, 'possibly carcinogenic,' in July 2023, and the same month the WHO/FAO Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) reaffirmed an acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg body weight. The FDA disagrees with IARC's conclusion and states that its scientists do not have safety concerns when aspartame is used under the approved conditions.

In September 2026, EFSA concluded that acesulfame K, aspartame and their salt (E 962) raise no safety concerns at currently reported uses and use levels. It reconfirmed an acceptable daily intake of 40 mg/kg body weight per day for aspartame and cited a recently revised ADI of 15 mg/kg body weight per day for acesulfame K; the FDA's ADI for acesulfame potassium is also 15 mg/kg. Both cans contain aspartame and acesulfame potassium, so these opinions concern the sweeteners in both products.

Sodium Content: 60 mg vs 40 mg Per Can and Daily Value Context

Which has more sodium, Dr Pepper Zero or Coke Zero?

Dr Pepper Zero Sugar lists 60 mg of sodium per 12 fl oz can, which is 3% of the Daily Value. Coca-Cola Zero Sugar lists 40 mg, which is 2% of the Daily Value. By the labeled figures, the Dr Pepper Zero Sugar can contains 20 mg more sodium.

• Dr Pepper Zero Sugar: 60 mg sodium (3% DV), potassium not listed on the panel
• Coca-Cola Zero Sugar: 40 mg sodium (2% DV), potassium 60 mg (2% DV)

An older Open Food Facts record for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar lists 35 mg of sodium, which may reflect an older label, so the Coca-Cola product page figure is used here. Daily Value percentages are reference points printed on the panel, and the Nutrition Facts panel on your own can is the reference for the exact figures.

Full Ingredient Lists Compared Line by Line

The lists below follow the order printed on each brand's product page.

Dr Pepper Zero Sugar:

• Carbonated water
• Caramel color
• Phosphoric acid
• Aspartame
• Sodium benzoate (preservative)
• Caffeine
• Acesulfame potassium
• Natural and artificial flavors
• Sodium phosphate

Coca-Cola Zero Sugar:

• Carbonated water
• Caramel color
• Phosphoric acid
• Aspartame
• Potassium benzoate (to protect taste)
• Natural flavors
• Potassium citrate
• Acesulfame potassium
• Caffeine
• Stevia extract

The first four ingredients match in name and order. The preservative, flavor wording, acid salts and stevia listing differ. Caffeine appears sixth on the Dr Pepper Zero Sugar list and ninth on the Coca-Cola Zero Sugar list, and stevia extract is the last ingredient on the Coca-Cola list.

Preservatives, Flavors and Phenylalanine Labeling Differences

Sodium benzoate is listed in federal regulations at 21 CFR 184.1733 as generally recognized as safe. The regulation states it is used in food at levels not to exceed good manufacturing practice, and that current usage results in a maximum level of 0.1 percent in food. Dr Pepper Zero Sugar uses sodium benzoate, while Coca-Cola Zero Sugar uses potassium benzoate, which its label says is included to protect taste. This article does not cite a federal listing for potassium benzoate.

The flavor wording also differs. Dr Pepper Zero Sugar lists 'natural and artificial flavors,' and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar lists 'natural flavors.' The specific ingredients in either flavor blend were not disclosed. The amounts of sodium phosphate, potassium citrate and phosphoric acid were also not disclosed.

The Coca-Cola Zero Sugar label includes the statement 'PHENYLKETONURICS: CONTAINS PHENYLALANINE.' The Keurig Dr Pepper product page does not show a similar statement for Dr Pepper Zero Sugar. The can may carry one, but this article does not quote a statement for that product.

Why Stevia Appears on Some Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Listings but Not Others

Coca-Cola's US product page lists stevia extract among the ingredients for Coca-Cola Zero Sugar. The product launched as Coke Zero in 2005, and the page now uses the Coca-Cola Zero Sugar name. An older Open Food Facts record lists the same ingredients without stevia extract and with 35 mg of sodium.

The available evidence does not establish why these listings differ. Possible explanations include a label change or an outdated database entry. The ingredient panel on the physical can is the most direct reference.

How to Check the Label on Your Own Can Before Buying

Use this checklist to compare any two cans on the same basis:

• Confirm the serving size is one 12 fl oz can before comparing numbers.
• Read the caffeine line, noting whether it is marked 'approx.'
• Compare sodium in milligrams and as a percent of the Daily Value.
• Scan the ingredients for aspartame, acesulfame potassium and stevia extract.
• Note the preservative: sodium benzoate or potassium benzoate.
• Read the flavor wording: natural and artificial flavors, or natural flavors.
• Look for a phenylalanine statement if that matters for your household.
• Compare retailer listings against the can itself.

Coca-Cola's page lists Coca-Cola Zero Sugar in 7.5, 8, 12, 16, 16.9 and 20 fl oz sizes, plus 1.25 L and 2 L. A different container size changes the per-can comparison, so match the size before comparing.

Aurascan is a food-label scanner that explains each ingredient one by one with cited evidence rather than returning a single score. It pulls product data from Open Food Facts, USDA and barcode databases, gives verdicts per ingredient as Clean, Mixed or Flagged, and has no sponsors. You can scan your own can and read each ingredient line for yourself.

For the full-sugar and diet versions of this matchup, see Dr Pepper vs Coke and Diet Coke vs Diet Dr Pepper.