In 1964 Doric Foods of Mount Dora, Florida created a new drink called Sunny Delight. The drink enjoyed much success in the United States and in 1999 was launched in the UK. Within a year it became the third best selling soft drink behind Pepsi and Coke, based on the claims that it was a healthier alternative. The Sunny Delight in the UK was very similar to the Sunny Delight in the US, however it used beta carotene for the coloring and additional vitamin A.
Since Sunny Delight was primarily water, high fructose corn syrup, and less than 2% juice, its heath properties were brought into question by the press and authorities. Just as the negative backlash was reaching a peak something would happen that would cause Sunny Delight change their name and image to try and put the past behind them.
In 1999 Dr Duncan Cameron from Glan Clywd hospital had a patient who was a four year old girl whose hands and face had turned yellow and orange. Further investigation found the beta carotene to be the cause. The child had been consuming too much in the form of 1.5 liters of Sunny Delight a day. Fortunately the condition disappears within a few weeks of not consuming Sunny Delight. While the same affliction can occur from the consumption of too many carrots, the damage to Sunny Delight's reputation was severe. By 2001 sales had more than halved.
In 2003 Sunny Delight disappeared from store shelves. In its place was SunnyD, which contained 5% juice in the US and 70% juice in the UK. Sales have not recovered to previous levels, but no one has turned yellow.
-Professor Walter
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