Pepsi Reintroducing Aspartame, Bringing Back Crystal Pepsi

PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) -- PepsiCo is putting aspartame back in some of its diet beverages less than a year after pulling the artificial sweetener as part of a marketing move over safety concerns.

The sweetener had been linked to cancer in lab mice and industry executives blamed the decline in sales on unfounded concerns people have about aspartame. The removal of the sweetener tested the theory that the sweetener was to blame for fleeing customers. But, the move seems to have been a misstep, with consumers dissatisfied over the change in flavor without the sweetener.

Pepsi MAX will be re-introduced to U.S. consumers this fall as Pepsi Zero Sugar and will contain aspartame. Diet Pepsi Classic Sweetener Blend will contain aspartame in its formula. But Diet Pepsi will continue to be sweetened without aspartame.

Meanwhile Crystal Pepsi will reportedly be making a comeback this August.

According to AdvertisingAge the 1990s-era clear soda will be sold in 20-ounce bottles at retailers beginning August 8th.

The soda made its debut in 1992 but was pulled off the market in early 1994.

The soda made a brief return in December during a contest via the Pepsi Pass app. PepsiCo handed out 13,000 six-packs of 16-oz. bottles to winners.

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