Diet Pepsi Drinkers Want Their Artificial Sweetener Back, Regardless Of Cancer Concerns

The Associated Press reported Monday that Pepsico, Inc (NYSE: PEP), which months ago pulled artificial sweetener aspartame from its diet beverages, will now be adding it back in.

Aspartame was pulled after being linked to cancer in lab mice. Declining diet soda sales were linked to perceived public concerns over its inclusion in the formula for drinks like Pepsi Max and Diet Pepsi, but once it was pulled the beverage giant discovered that its customers didn’t approve of the new taste.

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Pepsi will reintroduce Pepsi Max as Pepsi Zero Sugar this fall, complete with fan favorite ingredient aspartame. A variation of Diet Pepsi will now contain aspartame as part of its formula, but plain old Diet Pepsi will continue to be aspartame-free.