Potassium Benzoate (To Protect Taste)

I don't know what possessed me to look at the ingredients of the Diet Coke sitting on my desk. It just happened. I was curious to see if their were any ingredients that I was familiar with. Just 2 or 3 sounded vaguely similar to anything I might be interested in consuming. However, what jumped out at me was "Potassium Benzoate (to protect taste)." For those of you who know me, it won't be a huge stretch for you to realize that my imagination would get the best of me. I can visualize 2 chemical compounds at the molecular level wielding samurai swords or better yet light sabers saying "don't go near there." Then, there are a band of Die-T's hiding behind the caramel coloring waiting for a chance to steal to coveted "taste." The Die-T's scream and yell curses of "Weight Watchers" and "Jenny Craig" while charging only to be subdued by the fearless Potassium Benzoates (nicknamed Tassi and Benz). However, Taste being totally subjective makes an emotional decision and forfeits some of his appeal to accommodate the terminally wounded Die-T's.

I thought it was a much more exciting story as to why Diet Coke DOES indeed taste different than regular Coke. So if you ever wonder what I may be thinking, now you know.... Don't ask!