Sweet 'n' Low was an artificial sweetener. After ordering "something without any sugar" at Lou's Cafe on November 5, 1955, Marty McFly was given a cup of black coffee by Lou Caruthers. Marty then asked Lou if he had any Sweet 'n' Low, or something like it, which Lou had never heard of. When Marty explained what Sweet 'n' Low was, Lou said he didn't have anything like Marty had described.