Brenda Khan
Diet Sierra Mist is a lemon-lime-flavored soft drink that was introduced by PepsiCo in 2000. It is a zero-calorie, zero-sugar, and zero-carbohydrate drink, sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium. The drink was rebranded as Mist Twst in 2016 but reverted to its original name, Sierra Mist, in 2018. In 2023, PepsiCo discontinued the brand, replacing it with Starry.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | PepsiCo |
| Year Introduced | 1999 |
| Flavour | Lemon-lime |
| Sweeteners | Aspartame and acesulfame potassium |
| Calories | Zero |
| Pack Sizes | 12-count pack of 12 oz cans, 45 fl oz pack of 6 cans |
| Availability | Walmart, Amazon, Fred Meyer |
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What You'll Learn
Diet Sierra Mist is made by PepsiCo
PepsiCo has a history of producing lemon-lime sodas, with Teem introduced in 1960 and discontinued in 1984, and Slice launched the same year with a lemon-lime flavour. The name "Sierra Mist" was chosen from 1,000 possibilities after market research involving 2,000 people. "Sierra" had been a proposed name for the original Slice drink.
Diet Sierra Mist was sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium. In 2005, the drink was renamed Sierra Mist Free, to indicate that it was free of sugar, calories, carbohydrates, and caffeine. However, in 2008, the name was changed back to Diet Sierra Mist.
PepsiCo has continued to innovate with the Sierra Mist brand, introducing limited-edition flavours such as Sierra Mist: Undercover Orange in 2007 and Sierra Mist Cranberry Splash for the winter holidays in 2006. In 2010, PepsiCo replaced the original Sierra Mist formula with Sierra Mist Natural, which was sweetened with sucrose instead of high-fructose corn syrup.
Despite various name changes and reformulations, Diet Sierra Mist remains a product of PepsiCo.
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It was introduced in 2000
Diet Sierra Mist was introduced in 2000, a year after the original Sierra Mist lemon-lime soft drink line was launched by PepsiCo. The drink was aimed at competing with Sprite and 7 Up.
Sierra Mist was initially sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup and sugar. However, from 2006 until 2010, the formula was changed to be sweetened with only high-fructose corn syrup. Diet Sierra Mist, on the other hand, was sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium.
In 2005, Diet Sierra Mist was renamed Sierra Mist Free, to indicate that the beverage was free of sugar, calories, carbohydrates, and caffeine. This name change was short-lived, however, as it reverted to the original name, Diet Sierra Mist, in November 2008.
In 2007, PepsiCo released limited-time flavours of Sierra Mist and Sierra Mist Free, called "Undercover Orange", which had a mandarin orange flavour. These drinks served as a marketing tie-in with the release of the Warner Bros. film "Get Smart".
By 2010, PepsiCo replaced the original Sierra Mist formula with Sierra Mist Natural, which was sweetened with sucrose (table sugar) instead of high-fructose corn syrup. This new formulation had five other ingredients: carbonated water, citric acid, natural flavour, potassium citrate, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid.
Sierra Mist has undergone several formula changes and name changes over the years, including a brief change to "Mist Twst" in 2016, but it ultimately reverted to the Sierra Mist name in 2018. In 2023, PepsiCo discontinued the brand, replacing it with Starry.
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It is sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium
Sierra Mist is a lemon-lime-flavoured soft drink line introduced by PepsiCo in 1999. Diet Sierra Mist was introduced in 2000, and sales of both Diet and original Sierra Mist totalled $100 million in its first year of production.
Diet Sierra Mist is sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium. Aspartame is an artificial non-saccharide sweetener that is around 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is commonly used as a sugar substitute in foods and beverages and is often found in diet drinks. Acesulfame potassium, also known as acesulfame K or Ace-K, is another artificial sweetener. It is a potassium salt made by the acetylation of sulfamic acid. It is often used in conjunction with other sweeteners, such as aspartame, as it is known to enhance the sweetness of other compounds.
Aspartame and acesulfame potassium are both considered safe for consumption by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). They have been extensively studied and approved by regulatory authorities worldwide. These sweeteners offer a way to sweeten products without adding calories, which is desirable for those managing their weight or monitoring their blood sugar levels.
In addition to the sweeteners, Diet Sierra Mist contains other ingredients such as carbonated water, citric acid, natural flavours, potassium citrate, potassium benzoate, ascorbic acid, and calcium disodium EDTA. These ingredients contribute to the overall taste, texture, and preservation of the beverage.
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It was rebranded as Sierra Mist Free in 2005
Sierra Mist is a lemon-lime-flavoured soft drink line introduced by PepsiCo in 1999. Diet Sierra Mist was introduced in 2000, and sales of both Diet and original Sierra Mist totalled $100 million in its first year of production.
In 2005, Diet Sierra Mist was rebranded as Sierra Mist Free. The name change was intended to highlight that the beverage was free of sugar, calories, carbohydrates, and caffeine. This rebrand was part of PepsiCo's strategy to enhance the drink's appeal to health-conscious consumers. The company emphasised that Sierra Mist Free offered all the flavour of the original drink without the calories and sugar.
The Sierra Mist Free marketing campaign featured a range of celebrities, including comedians Nicole Sullivan, Debra Wilson, Aries Spears, Jim Gaffigan, and Michael Ian Black. The commercials were improv-based and aired from 2005 to 2006, with new cast members joining in 2006 and 2007.
In 2007, PepsiCo expanded the Sierra Mist line with the limited-time release of Sierra Mist: Undercover Orange and Sierra Mist Free: Undercover Orange. These drinks were clear sodas with a mandarin orange flavour, launched in partnership with the Warner Bros. film Get Smart.
In November 2008, Sierra Mist Free reverted to its original name, Diet Sierra Mist. This name change coincided with a broader PepsiCo redesign of its core carbonated soft drink brands.
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It has been replaced by Starry
Sierra Mist was a lemon-lime-flavoured soft drink line introduced by PepsiCo in 1999. In 2000, Diet Sierra Mist was introduced, sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium. In 2005, Diet Sierra Mist was renamed Sierra Mist Free, to indicate that it was free of sugar, calories, carbohydrates, and caffeine. However, in November 2008, the drink's name was changed back to Diet Sierra Mist.
Over the years, Diet Sierra Mist underwent various changes, including limited-time releases such as Sierra Mist: Undercover Orange and Sierra Mist Free: Undercover Orange, which were mandarin orange-flavoured clear sodas. In 2010, PepsiCo replaced the original Sierra Mist formula with Sierra Mist Natural, which was sweetened with sucrose instead of high-fructose corn syrup.
In December 2015, PepsiCo announced that they would be changing the name of Sierra Mist to "Mist Twst" in 2016, but the name was changed back to Sierra Mist in 2018. Finally, in January 2023, PepsiCo announced the discontinuation of the brand, replacing Sierra Mist with Starry.
Sierra Mist, including its diet version, has been a popular drink for many, with some enjoying its refreshing taste and others appreciating its zero-calorie option. Despite this, the brand has undergone various changes and challenges, including fluctuations in ingredient formulations and price concerns. Ultimately, the decision to replace Sierra Mist with Starry brings an end to the Sierra Mist brand, marking a new chapter in the soft drink landscape.
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Frequently asked questions
Diet Sierra Mist is made by PepsiCo.
Diet Sierra Mist is sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium.
Diet Sierra Mist can be purchased from Amazon, Walmart, and Fred Meyer.
