"Travis McGee" > wrote in message
...
> Jun 27, 2:58 PM EDT
>
> Diet Pepsi with aspartame returning to shelves in US
>
> 01:22 / 01:22
>
> NEW YORK (AP) -- Diet Pepsi made with aspartame is returning to shelves
> in the U.S., after PepsiCo saw sales plummet following its reformulation
> of the drink last summer to remove the artificial sweetener.
>
> PepsiCo says it will offer "Diet Pepsi Classic Sweetener Blend" made
> with aspartame starting in September, in 12-ounce cans, 2-liter bottles
> and 20-ounce bottles. The move is intended to appease fans who don't
> like the taste of the reformulated drink, which is made with the
> artificial sweetener sucralose.
>
> But PepsiCo Inc. said Diet Pepsi made with sucralose, commonly known by
> the brand name Splenda, will remain its primary diet soda offering.
> Those cans will be silver, while the "classic" Diet Pepsi with aspartame
> will be come in light blue packaging.
>
> When PepsiCo removed aspartame from Diet Pepsi in August, it said the
> change was the No. 1 request by customers. Industry executives have
> blamed the declining sale of diet sodas on concerns people have about
> the ingredient. Several years ago, Coca-Cola Co. tested ads in select
> newspapers defending the safety of the sweetener.
>
> PepsiCo's replacement of the sweetener from Diet Pepsi tested the theory
> that it was to blame for fleeing customers, but the plan seems to have
> backfired.
>
> In the first quarter of this year, sales volume for Diet Pepsi sank 10.6
> percent, according to industry tracker Beverage Digest.
>
> Diet Coke, which stuck with aspartame, saw volume decline a more
> moderate 5.7 percent.
>
> Aspartame had been linked to cancer in lab mice, but it is approved for
> use and the Food and Drug Administration says more than 100 studies
> support its safety. PepsiCo's decision to bring back Diet Pepsi with
> aspartame was first reported by the publication Beverage Digest.
>
> Meanwhile, PepsiCo also said Monday that Pepsi MAX will be re-introduced
> as Pepsi Zero Sugar in the U.S. and will still contain aspartame.
>
> Shares of PepsiCo Inc. slipped 13 cents to $101.85 amid a broad market
> sell-off. Its shares are up more than 7 percent over the past year.

Diet Coke has been offering a Splenda version for some time. I don't like
it. I also don't like Diet Pepsi no matter what is in it. Tastes bad to me.