Are diet sodas helping or hindering weight management efforts? Soft drinks giants blast ‘meritless’ lawsuits

By Elaine Watson

19-Oct-2017 Last updated on 19-Oct-2017 at 17:54 GMT

Are brands misleading shoppers by using the term ‘diet’ to describe soda sweetened with high intensity sweeteners such as aspartame? The argument – outlined in lawsuits vs the makers of Diet Coke, Diet Pepsi and Diet Dr Pepper - is a “stretch,” according to one attorney we spoke to, although others say the term 'diet' is becoming more problematic.

‘Striking’ rise in consumption of no- and low-calorie sweeteners stokes debate about their health impact

16-Jan-2017

By Elizabeth Crawford

A “striking” increase in the consumption of no- and low-calorie sweeteners over 13 years combined with conflicting data on their connection to obesity, diabetes and other health issues escalates the need for more research on their chronic health effects,...

Old Diet Pepsi recipe to return in the fall as 'classic' sub-brand: A savvy move or is Pepsi rearranging deckchairs on the Titanic?

28-Jun-2016

By Elaine Watson

Aspartame, said PepsiCo in April 2015, “is the #1 reason why US consumers say they are drinking less diet cola, so we’re confident that with this change [to sucralose], consumers will come back into the Diet Pepsi franchise.” Today, with sales continuing...

Pepsi exec: Aspartame is the #1 reason why US consumers say they are drinking less diet cola

27-Apr-2015

By Elaine Watson

To those arguing that replacing one artificial sweetener (aspartame) with another (sucralose) won’t arrest flagging sales of Diet Pepsi, PepsiCo SVP Seth Kaufman told FoodNavigator-USA that consumer research had singled out aspartame – rather that...