Diet Pepsi With Aspartame Is Back

(RTTNews) - PepsiCo Inc., (PEP) Monday confirmed that it would bring back the Diet Pepsi with aspartame in the US stores in September, one of the latest efforts by the beverage giant to boost its slowing sales.

The company said it would continue to sell sucralose-sweetened Diet Pepsi, which was launched last year after ditching the aspartame version.

Pepsi had replaced the aspartame-based Diet Pepsi after studies linked it to cancer in lab mice, while at the same time industry experts noted that consumers were avoiding artificial sweeteners.

However, sales of Diet Pepsi declined sharply after PepsiCo replaced aspartame with sucralose, another artificial sweetener. Most of the Diet Pepsi fans complained about the different taste. Diet Pepsi sales dropped almost 11 percent in the first quarter.

"Consumers want choice in diet colas, so we're refreshing our U.S. lineup to provide three options that meet differing needs and taste preferences," PepsiCo said.

Pepsi will continue to sell the aspartame-free versions of Diet Pepsi in silver can, while the Diet Pepsi Classic Sweetener Blend will be sold in a retro blue can.

Further, Pepsi has rebranded its Pepsi Max soda. The diet cola will be renamed Pepsi Zero Sugar, without any changes in recipe.