PepsiCo quietly changes sweetener in Diet Pepsi

[Hum]

NEW YORK, NY - Diet Pepsi is quietly changing its sweetener ahead of a major rebranding of the soft drink set for next month.

The change comes as PepsiCo Inc. looks to reinvigorate its namesake brands after losing market share to Coca-Cola Co. in recent years.

Cans of Diet Pepsi around the country now list a mix of two artificial sweeteners, a pairing that is commonly found in newer diet sodas. Previously, Diet Pepsi used only aspartame, which is sensitive to heat and breaks down more easily.

Although the switch is only intended to help prevent the taste from degrading over time, companies are often sensitive to public perceptions that they might be tinkering with major brands. PepsiCo executives likely don't want to call any attention to the use of artificial sweeteners in the drink either.

When reached for comment Sunday, PepsiCo spokeswoman Andrea Canabal said that Diet Pepsi using the new sweetener mix started hitting shelves in early December. She said the new mix will be more widely available in the coming weeks.

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[Ph1b3r0pt1c]

The bad thing, most of these 'soft' drinks are full of chemicals anyways. Whatever happened to the days of real sugar, flavors, and carbonated water? Greed is what happened :/

[Mr. Gibs]

The bad thing, most of these 'soft' drinks are full of chemicals anyways. Whatever happened to the days of real sugar, flavors, and carbonated water? Greed is what happened :/

More like corn lobbying.

In a lot of other countries coke is made with real sugar. However in North America it's made with high fructose corn syrup because of lobbying.

[Hum]

I'd rather make my own sodas, anymore. :/

[KingCracker]

Lol quietly changes they're sweetner, they weren't to quiet if the story is being posted on here. :laugh:

[TPreston]

The bad thing, most of these 'soft' drinks are full of chemicals anyways. Whatever happened to the days of real sugar, flavors, and carbonated water? Greed is what happened :/

Everything on earth and in the universe is made of chemicals, organic food is chock full of chemicals.

OT pepsi max is the best tasting non nutritive sweetened drink ive tried hope they don't mess it up.

[CJ33]

This article fails to specify the specifics about this change. does anyone know what they changed it to? what two artificial sweetners?

[Boo Berry]

I'd rather make my own sodas, anymore. :/

Same here. Love my SodaStreams!

[Lord Method Man]

The bad thing, most of these 'soft' drinks are full of chemicals anyways. Whatever happened to the days of real sugar, flavors, and carbonated water? Greed is what happened :/

I hate to break your heart, but those wholesome, wonderful things are "chemicals" too.

[pack34]

More like corn lobbying.

In a lot of other countries coke is made with real sugar. However in North America it's made with high fructose corn syrup because of lobbying.

Agricultural subsidies. They use it because with them, it's cheaper than sugar.

[Charisma Veteran]

I hate to break your heart, but those wholesome, wonderful things are "chemicals" too.

You know what he meant :p

[linsook]

I was a young child in the 80s when I had my first encounter with a carbonated drink, Sprite to be exact. It was absolutely amazing, the unique flavour, the sensation on your tongue. I just loved it. Somewhere along the way, I don't know when and why it happened, but they all started tasting differently. I had no clue that they switched from real sugar to high fructose corn syrup until many years later when someone said it in a AOL chatroom. It was an 'ah ha' moment, I finally knew one of my life's greatest mysteries. Fast forward to Summer, 2012. I went on a vacation to the Mediterranean. Usually on flights I ask to be served some sort of juice or water but on this particular flight back I asked for a Coke. The moment that caramel coloured liquid touched my tongue, my mind was blown. Memories of my childhood started racing through my head. I turned to my significant other and excitedly told her to try some. She looks at me like I'm crazy, 'no i'm fine,' she replies. I say, 'go on, try it, this is the best ****&^*^% Coke I've had in over 20 years', I enthused!! She took a taste and a huge grin appeared across her face. I picked up the can and looked at the ingredients. 'Sugar.'

[notchinese]

I only drink water, and you should too.

[DJGM]

This article fails to specify the specifics about this change.

does anyone know what they changed it to? what two artificial sweetners?

Probably the same sweeteners used in Pepsi Max ... a combination of Aspartame and Acesulfame K.

[margrave]

From the source link:

"In addition to aspartame, cans of Diet Pepsi found in New York, Omaha, Neb., and the Bay Area now list acesulfame potassium as an ingredient. The ingredient is often used in combination with other artificial sweeteners and can be found in a wide range of foods including baked goods, chewing gum and gelatin desserts."

[Growled Member]

OT pepsi max is the best tasting non nutritive sweetened drink ive tried hope they don't mess it up.

I like diet Pepsi now and I'm afraid I won't after they mess with it.

[Charisma Veteran]

I only drink water, and you should too.

lol. Water, coffee, and tea (nothing added to any of them) for me (Y)

[Hum]

Thank you for that Mr. Scientist. Maybe I should have elaborated. THE CHEMICALS THAT ARE MAN MADE, NOT THE ONES THAT ARE NATURALLY OCCURRING ...

Cyanide occurs 'naturally' too. ;)

[+Raze Subscriber²]

Coca-Cola from Mexico is made with sugar and is available at many food stores and Costco.

The diet sodas I've tasted with acesulfame potassium leave an aftertaste similar to the old saccharine sweetener used years ago, blah.

[srbeen]

Thats twice in one year Pepsi!

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/mar/09/coke-pepsi-recipe-change-avoid-cancer-warning

[n_K]

Wow another ****ty pop drink not worth getting.

So in total the list of ruined drinks is:

all fantas

all sprites

all lilts

all lemonades

all pepsis

sunny delight

all robinsons drinks

... In fact it's easier to list drinks they haven't ruined. The normal coke is the only soft drink I am aware of that doesn't have bloody artificial sweeteners in, they should be banned from production on the whole earth.

[Growled Member]

... In fact it's easier to list drinks they haven't ruined. The normal coke is the only soft drink I am aware of that doesn't have bloody artificial sweeteners in, they should be banned from production on the whole earth.

Might be easily to drink fruit juice or water.

[V9s]

I was a young child in the 80s when I had my first encounter with a carbonated drink, Sprite to be exact. It was absolutely amazing, the unique flavour, the sensation on your tongue. I just loved it. Somewhere along the way, I don't know when and why it happened, but they all started tasting differently. I had no clue that they switched from real sugar to high fructose corn syrup until many years later when someone said it in a AOL chatroom. It was an 'ah ha' moment, I finally knew one of my life's greatest mysteries. Fast forward to Summer, 2012. I went on a vacation to the Mediterranean. Usually on flights I ask to be served some sort of juice or water but on this particular flight back I asked for a Coke. The moment that caramel coloured liquid touched my tongue, my mind was blown. Memories of my childhood started racing through my head. I turned to my significant other and excitedly told her to try some. She looks at me like I'm crazy, 'no i'm fine,' she replies. I say, 'go on, try it, this is the best ****&^*^% Coke I've had in over 20 years', I enthused!! She took a taste and a huge grin appeared across her face. I picked up the can and looked at the ingredients. 'Sugar.'

This should be made into a TV ad.

[+Warwagon MVC]

Whatever happened to the days of real cocaine and carbonated water?

[The Evil Overlord]

Whatever happened to the days of real cocaine and carbonated water?

That was Coke, this one's Pepsi :p