Diet Pepsi is changing its formula, testing various artificial sweeteners in an effort for the drink to stay preserved for longer. The aspartame currently used loses its flavor faster than normal high fructose corn syrup. Diet Pepsi is looking for solutions both from different formula versions in other countries, as well as sweeter mixtures not used before. A new product should come out sometime next year. Diet Pepsi currently ranks as the 7th leading soda in the world, with Coke being number 1, and Diet Coke ranking 2nd.
While Diet Pepsi will be changing its sweeteners, there is no effort to change the overall taste of the beverage. The company plans to use a mix of acesulfame-potassium, which has a longer shelf life than aspartame. Diet coke is currently the only diet drink that uses aspartame without any other mix of artificial sweeteners. In an e-mailed statement, PepsiCo said that it’s “always looking at ways to provide the best consumer experience,” PepsiCo has made changes to its diet drinks before, including making a change to Diet Mountain Dew in 2006 and Diet Sprite in 2000.