Do soft drinks contain natural vanilla extract?

* Cost: Natural vanilla extract is expensive. Using it in a mass-produced soft drink would significantly increase the production cost.

* Stability: Natural vanilla extract can be volatile and its flavor can change over time. This is not ideal for a long shelf-life product like soda.

* Alternatives: Artificial vanilla flavorings are much cheaper, more stable, and easier to use in mass production.

So, while some soft drinks may use the word "vanilla" in their flavor description, it's likely referring to an artificial vanilla flavoring.