Milly Gaines
In 2015, PepsiCo announced that it would stop using the artificial sweetener aspartame in Diet Pepsi due to declining sales and consumer safety concerns. Aspartame had been linked to obesity and cancer in lab rats, which had a negative impact on its reputation. PepsiCo replaced aspartame with sucralose, a sweetener often packaged as Splenda, in its Diet Pepsi drinks in the US. However, just 10 months later, the company brought back aspartame-sweetened Diet Pepsi, citing consumer demand.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for removing aspartame from Diet Pepsi | Consumer safety concerns |
| Replacement for aspartame | Sucralose |
| Year of replacement | 2015 |
| Company statement | "Increasingly, US consumers have been asking for a great-tasting cola without aspartame." |
| Sales of Diet Pepsi in the past 10 years | Down by 35% |
| Sales of low-calorie soft drinks in the past 5 years | Down by 20% |
| Year of re-introducing aspartame | 2016 |
| Reason for re-introducing aspartame | Consumer demand |
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What You'll Learn
Health concerns and consumer safety
In 2015, PepsiCo announced that it would stop using the artificial sweetener aspartame in Diet Pepsi due to consumer safety concerns and declining sales. Scientific studies had linked artificial sweeteners to obesity and cancer in lab rats, causing consumers to become wary of aspartame. The Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), for instance, had been campaigning against aspartame for a long time. PepsiCo's decision to remove aspartame from Diet Pepsi was also influenced by the fact that consumers were increasingly viewing real sugar as "good for you".
Aspartame was replaced with sucralose, a sweetener branded as Splenda. PepsiCo's decision to use Splenda was likely influenced by its rival, Coca-Cola, which had also started using Splenda in its drinks to appeal to health-conscious consumers. Splenda was marketed as a healthier alternative to sugar, helping consumers reduce their calorie and sugar intake. PepsiCo also introduced its Smart Spot symbol in Canada to help consumers identify brands that could contribute to healthier lifestyles.
However, some concerns were raised about the new formulation of Diet Pepsi. Executive director Dr Michael Jacobson, for example, noted that the drink would still contain ace K, which he argued was "poorly tested". Nevertheless, PepsiCo maintained that the new formulation was developed after extensive research and testing with US diet cola drinkers.
Just 10 months after removing aspartame from Diet Pepsi, PepsiCo reintroduced it with the launch of Diet Pepsi Classic Sweetener Blend. The company stated that it had been exploring ways to make [Diet Pepsi with aspartame] available for consumers who preferred that version. The traditional Diet Pepsi sweetened with sucralose continued to be sold and labelled as "aspartame-free".
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Aspartame-free products
Aspartame has faced scrutiny from health organizations like the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which has long campaigned against its use. Pepsi's decision to market Diet Pepsi as "'Aspartame Free'" was seen as an acknowledgment of consumers' negative perceptions of aspartame. While some critics noted that Diet Pepsi still contained other artificial sweeteners like ace K, the removal of aspartame represented a step towards addressing health concerns.
The shift to aspartame-free products reflects a broader trend in the soft drink industry. Carbonated soft drinks have seen a decline in popularity, with consumers increasingly seeking healthier alternatives. The Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health reports that sugary drinks are a significant contributor to the obesity epidemic, especially in children. As a result, many consumers are turning to non-sugar sweetening alternatives, such as Splenda, to reduce their calorie intake and sugar consumption.
PepsiCo's decision to remove aspartame from Diet Pepsi is a response to evolving consumer preferences and health concerns. By offering aspartame-free products, PepsiCo aims to provide options that align with consumers' desires for great-tasting, low-calorie beverages. This shift demonstrates the company's adaptability and commitment to meeting the diverse needs and preferences of its customers.
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Obesity and cancer links
In 2015, PepsiCo announced that it would be removing aspartame from Diet Pepsi in the US, citing declining sales and health concerns. Aspartame, an artificial sweetener, has been the subject of health concerns for its potential links to obesity and cancer in lab rats.
Obesity is associated with an increased risk of developing cancer. Research has shown that excess body fat increases the risk of several cancers, including colorectal, post-menopausal breast, uterine, esophageal, kidney, and pancreatic cancers. The link between obesity and cancer risk is clear, although the exact mechanism is not yet fully understood. Experts believe that visceral fat, which surrounds vital organs, causes inflammation that affects the body's ability to manage hormones like insulin and estrogen. This inflammation can lead to insulin resistance, where the body produces more insulin to compensate. Increased insulin levels affect the production and control of hormones like estrogen, which can increase the risk of cancer.
Observational studies have found that people with obesity at the time of a cancer diagnosis are more likely to develop a second primary cancer in the future. Additionally, obesity is associated with an increased risk of treatment-related complications in cancer survivors, such as lymphedema in breast cancer survivors and incontinence in prostate cancer survivors treated with radical prostatectomy.
Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for reducing the risk of cancer. Body Mass Index (BMI) is a tool used to determine if an individual is at a healthy weight for their height. A BMI of 25.0 to 29.9 is considered overweight, while a BMI of 30.0 or higher indicates obesity. To maintain a healthy weight, it is recommended to stay physically active and eat a healthy diet rich in non-starchy vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and legumes.
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Sweetener alternatives
In 2015, PepsiCo replaced aspartame with Splenda sucralose in its Diet Pepsi drinks in the US. This was due to declining sales and health concerns, with scientific studies linking artificial sweeteners to obesity and cancer in lab rats. Aspartame-free versions of the drink were marketed as "Diet Pepsi Classic Sweetener Blend".
The sweetener Splenda sucralose is a low-calorie alternative to sugar and is used by smaller drink companies such as Hansen's, which markets itself as a natural soda maker. Sucralose is typically packaged in yellow packs and branded as Splenda, while aspartame is usually found in blue packets and branded as Equal or NutraSweet.
PepsiCo's decision to replace aspartame with Splenda sucralose was likely influenced by similar moves made by its competitors, such as Coca-Cola, which launched a new version of Diet Coke using Splenda sucralose to appeal to health-conscious consumers. PepsiCo also introduced its Smart Spot symbol in Canada to help consumers identify brands that contribute to healthier lifestyles.
While some people may prefer drinks sweetened with Splenda to avoid the calories in sugar-sweetened beverages, it's important to note that Splenda is not without its own health concerns. The Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health has reported that soft drinks are the largest source of added sugar in the American diet, contributing to the obesity epidemic, especially in children. As a result, non-sugar sweeteners like Splenda can be an attractive alternative for those trying to reduce their sugar intake and calorie consumption.
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Declining sales
In 2015, PepsiCo announced that it would stop using the artificial sweetener aspartame in Diet Pepsi, citing declining sales and consumer safety concerns. Aspartame had been linked to obesity and cancer in lab rats, which had a negative impact on its reputation. The company decided to replace aspartame with sucralose (Splenda) in its diet drinks, a move that was expected to boost sales by appealing to health-conscious consumers. This decision was made after "extensive research and testing with US diet cola drinkers," according to PepsiCo SVP Seth Kaufman.
The shift away from aspartame-sweetened drinks was part of a broader trend in the soft drink industry. Carbonated soft drinks were seeing a decline in popularity, with consumers moving away from diet sodas and towards drinks sweetened with real sugar, which were perceived as healthier. PepsiCo's main rival, Coca-Cola, had also recently announced the launch of a new version of Diet Coke sweetened with Splenda sucralose, further indicating the demand for low-calorie, artificially sweetened beverages.
PepsiCo's decision to remove aspartame from Diet Pepsi was likely influenced by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), which had long campaigned against the use of aspartame. The CSPI considered the removal of aspartame and the marketing of Diet Pepsi as "aspartame-free" as an acknowledgment that consumers had become wary of the sweetener. Despite the concerns over aspartame, some health experts argued that diet sodas still represented a better choice than full-sugar alternatives.
Just 10 months after removing aspartame, Pepsi reintroduced it with the launch of Diet Pepsi Classic Sweetener Blend. This move suggests that while PepsiCo intended to address declining sales and health concerns by removing aspartame, it ultimately had to consider the preferences of loyal consumers who favoured the original Diet Pepsi formula.
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Frequently asked questions
Pepsi stopped using Splenda in Diet Pepsi due to consumer safety concerns and declining sales.
Splenda, or sucralose, is an artificial sweetener that is often used as a replacement for sugar.
Pepsi replaced Splenda with another artificial sweetener, aspartame, just 10 months after removing it from their drinks.
Pepsi replaced Splenda due to consumer concerns about the sweetener. However, they brought it back due to demand from consumers who loved Diet Pepsi with aspartame.
Other drinks that contain Splenda include Caffeine-free and regular Diet Mountain Dew, Diet Lipton teas, Gatorade G2 and Zero products, Propel and Pure Leaf diet iced teas, and Pepsi with Splenda, Aquafina flavored waters and Brisk teas and fruit-blend drinks.
