Brenda Khan
Pepsi has undergone several formula changes over the years, with the company recently reducing the sugar content in its classic Pepsi cans and bottles. However, there is no indication that Diet Pepsi has changed its formula. The diet drink was introduced in 1964 as a sugar-free variant of Pepsi and has maintained its status as a standalone product within the Pepsi range. While classic Pepsi has seen a reduction in sugar content, Diet Pepsi remains true to its original concept, catering to health-conscious consumers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Change in formula | Reduced caffeine content, similar to regular Pepsi |
| Reduced sugar content, replaced with a blend of sweeteners | |
| Tastes "way sweeter" with no "weird after taste" | |
| Reason for change | Lack of ingredients |
| To compete with Coca-Cola Zero Sugar | |
| To reduce sugar content to below 5g per 100ml and be exempt from Sugar Tax | |
| Products affected | Pepsi Zero Sugar, Classic Pepsi |
| Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Max are unchanged |
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What You'll Learn
Classic Pepsi's formula changed in 2023, reducing sugar content
Classic Pepsi's formula changed in 2023, reducing its sugar content by about 57%. The new formula now contains 4.55 grams of sugar per 100ml, which is less than half of the original formula's 11 grams per 100ml. This change brings the sugar content below the threshold of 5 grams per 100ml, exempting Pepsi from the Sugar Tax imposed by the UK government in 2018.
The revised formula also includes a blend of sweeteners to maintain the taste that Pepsi drinkers expect. PepsiCo has worked to ensure that the new formula maintains the classic Pepsi taste while reducing sugar and calories. The company has stated that the new formula contains 59 calories per 330ml serving (the equivalent of a single can), down from 36 grams of sugar in the previous formula.
The change in formula applies to all Pepsi products that have not yet been manufactured, while existing cans and bottles will still be sold until stocks last. A spokesperson for PepsiCo confirmed that venues such as pubs and restaurants will continue to serve the original product, which contains 10.65 grams of sugar per 100ml. Customers seeking the original formula are advised to check the ingredients before purchasing.
The reduction in sugar content is the second recent change to Pepsi's portfolio, following the replacement of Sierra Mist with Starry, a new lemon-lime soda designed to compete with Coke-owned Sprite. The formula change also comes about a year after Coca-Cola made a similar change to its Coca-Cola Zero Sugar recipe.
While some consumers have expressed concern that the new formula may alter the flavour of Pepsi, others have noted that the taste of soft drinks can vary depending on factors such as temperature and carbonation level.
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Diet Pepsi's formula has not changed, but the logo has
Diet Pepsi, currently stylised as PEPSI DIET, was introduced in 1964 as a sugar-free variant of Pepsi. It was first test-marketed in 1963 under the name Patio Diet Cola and was rebranded as Diet Pepsi the following year. Since its inception, musicians, athletes, and actors/actresses have been featured prominently in its promotion.
The formula for Diet Pepsi has not changed. However, the company did announce changes to its flagship drink, classic Pepsi, in March 2023. The new formula contains less sugar and a blend of sweeteners, reducing the sugar content to 4.55 grams per 100ml. This change was made to comply with the Sugar Tax imposed by the UK government in April 2018, which levies a charge on soft drinks containing more than 5 grams of sugar per 100ml.
While the formula for Diet Pepsi remains unchanged, the company has made tweaks to its Zero Sugar recipe. This change comes about a year after Coca-Cola also updated its Coke Zero Sugar recipe. Pepsi did not reveal the specifics of the change but noted that the new version tastes more refreshing with a real cola taste. The packaging design for Pepsi Zero Sugar remains the same, except for the addition of a badge indicating the new improved taste.
Over the years, the logo used in the packaging and advertisement of Diet Pepsi has changed multiple times. In 2008, PepsiCo announced a redesign of its logo and the rebranding of many products, including Diet Pepsi. The logo became a series of "smiles," with the central white band arcing at different angles depending on the product. In 2010, all Pepsi variants, including Diet Pepsi, returned to using the original "smile" logo. The logo and packaging design are essential for product differentiation and brand recognition, so companies often experiment with different designs to stay modern and appealing to consumers.
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Pepsi Zero Sugar's formula changed in 2023, reducing caffeine
Pepsi has made changes to its formula in 2023, specifically to its Pepsi Zero Sugar drink. The company has not revealed the specifics of the new formula, but it has disclosed that the amount of caffeine has been reduced. This change brings the caffeine content in line with that of regular Pepsi.
The new formula is said to taste more refreshing, with a "real cola taste," and no longer has the "`weird after taste`" of its predecessor. Pepsi's chief marketing officer, Todd Kaplan, stated that the company "leveraged the best new beverage technology to upgrade our Pepsi Zero Sugar product to give fans the best-tasting cola in the zero-sugar category." The new recipe has been rolled out to store shelves, with the same packaging design but with a "new improved taste" badge to help shoppers identify it.
The change in formula is the second shake-up in Pepsi's portfolio in 2023, with the company also replacing Sierra Mist with a new lemon-lime soda called Starry to better compete with Coke-owned Sprite. The reduction in caffeine in Pepsi Zero Sugar may be due to a lack of ingredients, particularly the difficulty and expense of sourcing ginseng.
The change in formula has been met with mixed reactions from consumers. Some have praised the new version, finding it more refreshing and sweeter, while others have expressed disappointment, claiming that the classic drink has been "ruined." Some loyal fans of the original formula have even taken to Twitter to express their dissatisfaction, with one user tweeting, "So, apparently normal Pepsi in the UK changed their recipe, reduced sugar and added sweetener... it's rotten, won't be buying more, and it was my fave too!"
The reduction in sugar content is significant, with a 57% decrease in the classic blue label product, bringing it down to 4.55g of sugar per 100ml. This change exempts Pepsi from the Sugar Tax imposed by the UK government in April 2018, which levies a charge on soft drinks containing more than 5g of sugar per 100ml. While the new formula has reduced sugar, it also contains a blend of sweeteners to maintain the expected Pepsi taste.
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Classic Pepsi's new formula is exempt from the UK's sugar tax
In 2017, the UK introduced the Soft Drinks Industry Levy (SDIL), a tax on manufacturers of drinks with added sugar. The tax puts a charge of 24p on drinks containing more than 8g of sugar per 100ml and 18p per litre on drinks with 5-8g of sugar per 100ml. Drinks with less than 0.5g of sugar per 100ml are exempt from the tax.
In March 2023, Pepsi changed the formula of its classic drink in cans and bottles. The new formula contains less sugar and a blend of sweeteners to maintain the Pepsi taste. The new formula contains 4.55 grams of sugar per 100ml, which means it falls below the threshold for the sugar tax.
The change in formula is likely a strategic move by Pepsi to avoid the sugar tax and make its product more price-competitive. Before the change, Pepsi Regular was priced at a higher price point due to the tax, and it was difficult to find it in stores.
Pepsi is not the only manufacturer to have changed its formula to avoid the sugar tax. More than 50% of manufacturers have already cut sugar from their products, including Fanta, Ribena, Irn-Bru, Lucozade, and Coca-Cola.
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Some consumers dislike the new formula, calling it rotten
Pepsi recently made a significant change to its recipe, reducing the sugar content by 57%. The new formula contains just 4.55 grams of sugar per 100ml, which is less than half of the original amount. While the company claims that the new recipe maintains the classic Pepsi taste, some consumers disagree.
Several customers have taken to social media and online forums to express their dislike for the new formula, with one Twitter user, Bekah @I_Am_No_Jedi, calling it "rotten" and saying that she will no longer be purchasing the drink. Similarly, on Reddit, users have described the new Pepsi as "nasty" and "off", with one person claiming that it now has a "chemical aftertaste."
The change in recipe seems to be a strategic move by PepsiCo to reduce the sugar content in their drinks and avoid the Sugar Tax imposed by the government in 2018. This tax applies to soft drinks containing more than 5 grams of sugar per 100ml, and with the new formula, Pepsi is now exempt from this tax.
While some consumers are unhappy with the change, others may appreciate the reduced sugar content for health reasons. It is also worth noting that the new formula only applies to the classic blue label product, with the Diet and Max versions remaining unchanged. Pepsi Zero Sugar, however, has also undergone a recipe change, and it is speculated that this is due to a lack of certain ingredients, such as ginseng, and to improve its taste and competitiveness against rival Coke Zero Sugar.
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Frequently asked questions
No, as of 2023, Diet Pepsi has not changed its formula. The original formula for Diet Pepsi was introduced in 1964 as a variant of Pepsi with no sugar.
Yes, in 2023, Pepsi changed the formula for its classic Pepsi drink in cans and bottles. The new formula contains less sugar and more sweeteners.
Pepsi changed the formula to reduce the amount of sugar in its classic drink. The new formula contains 4.55 grams of sugar per 100ml, which is less than half the amount of sugar in the original formula.
Yes, in 2023, Pepsi changed the formula for its Zero Sugar drink. The company reduced the amount of caffeine in the drink to mirror the amount in its regular Pepsi. The new formula also contains less ginseng.
