Madeleine Hull
Sucralose is an artificial sweetener used in diet drinks as a replacement for sugar. It is 600 times sweeter than table sugar and is often sold under the brand name Splenda. Sucralose is commonly used in diet drinks, and it is known to be present in Diet Coke, Diet Dr. Pepper, and Diet Mountain Dew. Diet Pepsi is a diet drink introduced in 1964 as a sugar-free variant of Pepsi. While the ingredients of Diet Pepsi vary depending on the country, this paragraph will explore whether sucralose is among its ingredients.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of drink | Diet carbonated cola soft drink |
| Manufacturer | PepsiCo |
| Year of introduction | 1964 |
| Packaging | Glass bottles, cans, plastic bottles |
| Current distribution | Plastic bottles, cans, glass bottles, soda fountains |
| Calories | Zero calories |
| Ingredients (US) | Carbonated water, caramel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate, caffeine, citric acid, natural flavor, acesulfame potassium, phenylketonurics |
| Ingredients (Canada) | Carbonated water, caramel color, phosphoric acid, aspartame, sodium benzoate, caffeine, flavor, acesulfame potassium, citric acid, dimethylpolysiloxane |
| Ingredients (UK) | Carbonated water, caramel (E150d), flavorings (including caffeine) |
| Sugar substitute | Aspartame, acesulfame potassium, sucralose |
| Concerns | Cancer risk, DNA damage |
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What You'll Learn
History of Diet Pepsi
Diet Pepsi, currently stylised as PEPSI DIET, is a diet carbonated cola soft drink produced by PepsiCo. It 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.
In the early 1960s, awareness grew regarding the health impacts of high sugar intake. PepsiCo sought to develop a lower-calorie cola option to appeal to increasingly health-conscious consumers. Their product developers formulated a diet cola recipe, which would become known as Patio Diet Cola. This was the first low-calorie soda produced by a major American company.
When it was first introduced, Diet Pepsi was packaged in glass bottles and was also available in cans. In the late 1960s, Diet Pepsi began to be promoted independently from Pepsi. The first television advertisement to feature Diet Pepsi as a standalone product was "Girlwatchers", which focused on the cosmetic aspects of the beverage. The musical jingle from this ad generated popular appeal and was eventually recorded and played on the radio, becoming a Top 40 hit.
In 1970, controversy erupted as animal studies linked saccharin, the artificial sweetener used in Diet Pepsi, with bladder cancer, sparking a public panic. Though later deemed safe for human consumption, the episode shook confidence in early diet soda sweeteners. Seeking to dissociate from saccharin, Diet Pepsi and other major brands shifted to using aspartame in 1983. However, aspartame also became controversial after allegations that it posed risks of brain tumours.
In 2012, Pepsi changed Diet Pepsi's sweetener to sucralose ahead of a major rebranding of the soft drink in 2013. However, this new formula was unpopular, and in 2016, Pepsi revived the aspartame formulation as the "Diet Pepsi Classic Sweetener Blend" for US markets. The company announced plans to revert to using aspartame in 2018, and this formulation was released market-wide on 25 February 2018.
Over the years, additional variations of Diet Pepsi have been introduced, with flavours such as wild cherry, vanilla, lemon, and lime added to the cola. A caffeine-free version is also produced, known as Pepsi Light Caffeine Free in Australia. Diet Pepsi has also undergone several logo and packaging redesigns, including in 2008 and 2009, when the brand's traditional logo was transformed into a minimalist, lower-case style.
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Sucralose health concerns
Sucralose, also known as Splenda, is a synthetic organochlorine sweetener that is commonly used in food and beverages as a sugar alternative. It is made from real sugar but is chemically changed to be 600 times sweeter than sugar with almost no calories.
While sucralose is generally considered safe for consumption by the FDA and other international organizations, there are still ongoing studies investigating its long-term effects on health. Some studies have linked sucralose consumption to potential health problems, particularly concerning its effects on bacteria in the gut and body weight regulation. For instance, concerns have been raised about the reduction in intestinal bacteria from sucralose, which could have implications for protection against infection, maintenance of the intestinal epithelial barrier, and treatment of IBD.
Additionally, the stability of sucralose has been questioned, with studies showing that its stability decreases as temperature and pH increase. At 180°C, sucralose completely degrades at all pH levels, releasing chloride ions. This has raised concerns about its safety in heated applications. However, one study found that sucralose did not form these compounds when heated and was safe for cooking and baking, although it is worth noting that this study was funded by the manufacturers of Splenda.
It is important to note that the effects of sucralose may vary depending on the amount consumed and individual factors. Some studies suggest that consuming moderate amounts of sucralose does not negatively impact gut health, while long-term intake and higher doses may have more pronounced effects.
While artificial sweeteners like sucralose can be a popular choice for those watching their carbohydrate and calorie intake, it is always advisable to consume such products in moderation and be mindful of the potential risks associated with them.
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Pepsi's other diet drinks
PepsiCo's other diet drinks include Diet Pepsi Wild Cherry, Diet Pepsi Vanilla, Diet Pepsi Lemon, and Diet Pepsi Lime. Diet Pepsi was introduced in 1964 as a sugar-free variant of Pepsi. It was the first diet cola to be distributed on a national scale in the United States and has since expanded its distribution worldwide, although it is known as Pepsi Light in some countries, including Italy, Poland, Argentina, and Brazil. Diet Pepsi has been promoted by celebrities such as musicians, athletes, and actors, and its packaging and logo have undergone several changes over the years.
In 2012, PepsiCo announced that they would be changing the sweetener in Diet Pepsi to sucralose, ahead of a major rebranding in 2013. However, due to customer feedback, the company reverted to using aspartame as the sweetener in 2018. The ingredients in Diet Pepsi vary slightly depending on the country of origin. For example, in the United States, it contains carbonated water, caramel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate, caffeine, citric acid, natural flavor, and acesulfame potassium. In Canada, the ingredients are similar, but sodium benzoate is used instead of potassium benzoate, and in the UK, the drink includes a colour ingredient (caramel E150d) and an acidity regulator (sodium citrate).
In addition to Diet Pepsi, PepsiCo has released other reduced-calorie beverages. In 2004, the company introduced Pepsi Edge, which contained half the sugar of regular Pepsi, but this product was discontinued in 2005 due to lackluster sales. PepsiCo then launched Pepsi Max in 2012, which also contains a reduced amount of sugar. These products were likely targeted at "carb-conscious consumers" who wanted to reduce their carbohydrate intake without completely eliminating it.
PepsiCo has also diversified its product line by introducing diet drinks with additional flavors such as vanilla and lemon. For instance, Diet Pepsi Vanilla was launched in 2000, and a caffeine-free version of Diet Pepsi, known as Pepsi Light Caffeine Free, is available in Australia.
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Ingredients in Diet Pepsi
Diet Pepsi, currently stylised as PEPSI DIET, is a diet carbonated cola soft drink produced by PepsiCo. It was introduced in 1964 as a sugar-free variant of Pepsi. Diet Pepsi was the first diet cola to be distributed on a national scale in the United States.
The ingredients in Diet Pepsi vary depending on the country of origin. In the US, its ingredients are listed as: carbonated water, caramel colour, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate, caffeine, citric acid, natural flavour, and acesulfame potassium. The drink is marketed as having zero calories, as FDA guidelines allow products with fewer than five calories per serving to be labelled as containing "zero calories".
In Canada, the ingredients list is similar, but replaces potassium benzoate with sodium benzoate, and also includes dimethylpolysiloxane. In the UK, the drink is listed as consisting of carbonated water, colour (caramel E150d), flavourings (including caffeine), phosphoric acid, sweeteners (aspartame and acesulfame K), acidity regulator (sodium citrate), preservative (sodium benzoate), citric acid, and a source of phenylalanine.
In Australia, the caffeine-free version of Diet Pepsi, known as Pepsi Light Caffeine Free, has the following ingredients: carbonated water, caramel colour, phosphoric acid, aspartame, sodium benzoate, acesulfame potassium, natural flavour, and citric acid.
In 2012, it was reported that Diet Pepsi would be changing its sweetener to sucralose ahead of a major rebranding of the soft drink in 2013.
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Diet Pepsi advertising
Diet Pepsi, currently stylised as PEPSI DIET, is a sugar-free carbonated soft drink produced by PepsiCo. It was introduced in 1964 as a variant of Pepsi with no sugar. The drink was first test-marketed in 1963 under the name Patio Diet Cola and was rebranded as Diet Pepsi the following year. It was the first diet cola to be distributed on a national scale in the United States.
The logo and packaging of Diet Pepsi have changed multiple times since its launch. In 1994, Diet Pepsi became the first product to list a "freshness date" on each individual can and bottle, a practice that later became a standard in the packaged food and beverage industry. As of 2020, the product is distributed in plastic bottles, cans, and glass bottles, as well as via soda fountains in retail operations such as restaurants and convenience stores.
The advertising of Diet Pepsi has also evolved over the years. While it was initially advertised alongside regular Pepsi, it began to be promoted independently in the late 1960s. The first television advertisement to feature Diet Pepsi as a standalone product was "Girlwatchers," which emphasised the cosmetic aspects of the beverage. The musical jingle from this ad became so popular that it was recorded and played on the radio, eventually becoming a Top 40 hit. Since then, musicians, professional athletes, actors and actresses have been featured prominently in Diet Pepsi promotions. For example, in a 1985 Super Bowl XIX advertisement, Joe Montana of the San Francisco 49ers buys a Diet Pepsi for Dan Marino of the Miami Dolphins.
Today, Diet Pepsi continues to be advertised through various channels, including TV commercials and social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. iSpot.tv, for instance, offers a robust catalog of Diet Pepsi TV commercials, along with insights into their ad testing results and campaign performance. Some recent Diet Pepsi TV spots include '#BreakOutThePepsi: Ring Toss' featuring Odell Beckham Jr., 'Just One Sip' with a song by Doris Troy, and 'L.O.V.E.' featuring Sofia Vergara.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Diet Pepsi contains sucralose. Sucralose is an artificial sweetener that is 600 times sweeter than table sugar. It is sold under the brand name Splenda.
The ingredients in Diet Pepsi vary depending on the country of origin. In the US, the ingredients are: carbonated water, caramel color, aspartame, phosphoric acid, potassium benzoate, caffeine, citric acid, natural flavor, and acesulfame potassium.
The safety of sucralose has been debated. A 2023 study reported finding DNA damage from the use of sucralose. However, the study concluded that the damage was caused by sucralose-6-acetate, a compound formed in trace amounts after sucralose is consumed and metabolized, rather than from sucralose itself.
