Diet Pepsi with aspartame returning to shelves in US

PepsiCo Inc. said Monday it would reintroduce the aspartame-sweetened version of Diet Pepsi in USA stores in September, its latest attempt to halt plunging diet cola sales.

Pepsi had replaced the aspartame-based Diet Pepsi after studies linked it to cancer in lab mice, while at the same time industry experts noted that consumers were avoiding artificial sweeteners.

But the move looks to have backfired after consumers said they were dissatisfied with the change in flavour without the sweetener.

The company will reintroduce Pepsi Max to USA consumers this September as Pepsi Zero Sugar, which will contain aspartame.

The aspartame-free Diet Pepsi, which came to market last summer, will continue as PepsiCo’s primary diet cola offering.

The company said that Diet Pepsi brand with sucralose and Ace-K, which was introduced last August to substitute for aspartame, will still remain.

Even though there is no scientific evidence that the sweetener is unsafe, many consumers are saying on social media that Pepsi is disregarding aspartame health concerns in favor of profits.

“Consumers want choice in diet colas, so we’re refreshing our USA line-up to provide three options that meet differing needs and taste preferences”, said PepsiCo spokesperson Gina Anderson.

USA store sales of Diet Pepsi fell 10.6% in volume terms in the first quarter of 2016, according to industry tracker Beverage Digest.

The current Diet Pepsi recipe will be available in the same silver cans, while a classic Diet Pepsi in retro blue cans will be offered alongside.

Diet Coke, which stuck with aspartame, saw volume decline a more moderate 5.7 percent.

In the first quarter of his year, sales volume for Diet Pepsi sank 10.6%..

Meanwhile, PepsiCo also said Monday that Pepsi MAX will be re-introduced as Pepsi Zero Sugar in the US and will still contain aspartame.