Beverages

Safeway Soda: A Zero Calorie Cola

If I am going to enjoy a soda, it is typically a Diet Coke or Coke Zero knock off. It is refreshing, zero calories, and offers a little bit of a caffeine pick up if I am tired of drinking coffee. For health reasons, I try to avoid drinking soda at home. As it is an unhealthy habit, that can easily get out of control. But when I am looking for a treat I head to Safeway and pick up a two liter container of Safeway Soda. One of my favorites is the zero calorie cola.

Signature Select Soda

Coca Cola Knock Off Review

This is an actual off brand soda I regularly buy and drink. It is a solid value. It is closer in taste to Coke Zero than Pepsi. Sometimes I wonder if it has a little bit of an off taste to it. But probably not. It is sweet, but not in overbearing way. One glass usually ends up being enough for me.

I still do wish it was more carbonated. While I do buy it and drink it, the drink doesn’t compare to getting a big Diet Coke at McDonald’s with a burger and fries. Or filling up my soda cup at Chipotles after purchasing a big burrito and a side of chips and guacamole. To me soda is about the experience and what it is paired with.

The 2 liter bottles needs to be used within a couple of days. Otherwise it is not even worth drinking. And make sure to enjoy it in a big glass cup with a lot of ice. This is a must! This Safeway soda definitely get the job done for the price.

Off Brand Cola Ingredients

  • Carbonated Water
  • Caramel Color
  • Phosphoric Acid
  • Potassium Citrate
  • Aspartame
  • Potassium Benzoate
  • Natural Flavor
  • Caffeine
Off Brand Cola Ingredients

Safeway Soda Deals

Shopping at Safeway is sort of complicated. If you go in and pay list price for everything it is an expensive place to shop. But if you have a Safeway Card (which costs nothing) and use the Safeway app efficiently you can get some pretty good deals. The app is key to getting a good deal on Sigature Select soda.

Safeway soda is offered in three different packaging formats. The standard 2 liter bottle, a 12 pack of cans, or a 24 pack of cans. To get the best deal you need to evaluate the cost per ounce on every trip. It changes weekly as to which of these three products is the best deal.

Safeway Diet Coke

Similar to the name brand, Safeway has two zero calorie cola products. The traditional diet cola and this zero-calorie soda pictured above. Over the years, I have found that the name brand Coke Zero is better than Diet Coke. So I figure that same must hold true for the off brand soda products as well.

Coca Cola Knock Off

Signature Select Soda

Safeway has two private label soda brands and they appear almost identical. They have the Signature Select brand and the Refreshe brand. As of 2019 Albertsons Companies Inc. which owns Safeway has streamlined the private label portfolio. Everything rolls up into the Signature Select portfolio. Though, on a visit to your local Safway you will see some soda products marked as Safeway Select and some as Refreshe.

Signature Select Soda Flavors

Safeway has a robust selection of flavor options, with one to make just about anyone smile. I have tried most of these. Other than the Strawberry soda.

Also, do not forget that Safeway offers a Signature Select Seltzer Water.

  • Dr. Dynamite
  • Lemon Lime
  • Strawberry
  • Cream Soda
  • Orange
  • Grape
  • Root Beer
  • Grapefruit
  • Mountain Breeze
  • Ginger Ale
  • Punch
  • Cherry Cola
Safeway Soda

Is Diet Soda Bad For You?

There are a common couple points of speculation around diet soda.

  • One is that artificial sweeteners cause cancer or other diseases
  • The other is that the chemicals in diet soda make people hungry and likely to eat more and gain weight

For the most part these concerns are over done. A reasonable amount of diet soda doe not carry any serious health consequences. For a detailed analysis of these concerns, check out the article by NerdFitness on Is Diet Soda Bad For You?

Diet Orange Soft Drink Controversy

Safeway not only acted promptly to minimize any risk of benzene in its product, but pledged to follow rigorous testing standards should it ever introduce a new or reformulated product containing that combination of ingredients” -Supermarket News

This may be old news. But it is bad news for the reputation of off brand soda. Back in 2007 Safeway settled a lawsuit around the potential presence of benzene in its private-label Safeway Select Diet Orange soft drink. The reason this is a concern is because benzene is known to be cancer causing. With the presence of Vitamin C and either sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate, heat can trigger a reaction that forms the benzene molecule. The soda ingredients were reformulated to avoid this issue back in 2007.

Safeway Soda

Loyal Off Brand Guy viewers. I am sorry, but there is not a lot of video content around Safeway Soda. Believe it or not, this is the best review available.

One thought on “Safeway Soda: A Zero Calorie Cola

  • I think this is spot on. I started drinking it when I could not get Diet Coke, Coke Zero, or even Safeway Select Diet during the pandemic shortages. I found I preferred it and continue to drink it today. And you’re right about carbonation: a little more fizz would be nice!

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