Diet Pepsi

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Diet Pepsi is a low-calorie carbonated cola, introduced in 1964 as a variant of Pepsi-Cola with no sugar. Its current formula in the United States contains only the artificial sweetener aspartame. The current Canadian formulation contains both aspartame (124mg/355ml) and acesulfame potassium (32mg/355ml)^{[citation needed]}. Pepsi does not list on its United States labeling the exact amount of aspartame/Nutrasweet present.

In some countries, Diet Pepsi is known as Pepsi Light. This is not to be confused with an earlier U.S. product of the same name which was essentially 1970s Diet Pepsi with lemon flavoring.

Although Diet Pepsi contains caffeine, another version is available without caffeine. Additional variations of Diet Pepsi have been introduced over the years, wherein other flavors (such as wild cherry, vanilla, lemon, and lime) have been added to the cola. Their availability and brand identification vary by country.

Diet Pepsi's current slogan is "Light.Crisp.Refreshing."

Test Marketing

Diet Pepsi was first introduced as Patio Diet Cola in 1963. After the drink received positive reviews, it was re-introduced as Diet Pepsi in 1964.

Marketing

In the United States Diet Pepsi is marketed as calorie-free, as FDA guidelines allow products with less than five calories per serving to be labeled as containing zero calories.

PepsiCo also markets low-calorie colas known as Pepsi Max and Pepsi ONE.

When Diet Pepsi was introduced, it originally contained one calorie (just like Pepsi ONE) until the late 90's. Then it was marked to having zero calories.

Diet Pepsi in popular culture

In 1985, immediately following Super Bowl XIX, the game's respective quarterbacks, Joe Montana and Dan Marino, meet in a hallway of what appears to be a football stadium. Montana of the winning team, buys Marino a Diet Pepsi, and Marino promises to buy the drink the next year^{[citation needed]}.

During the early-1990s, blues singer Ray Charles was featured in a series of Diet Pepsi ads featuring the jingle, "You Got the Right One, Baby" followed by "Uh huh!".

In the United States a Diet Pepsi commercial features a Diet Pepsi Machine (simply called Machine) being drafted into the NFL by the 3-time Super Bowl champion New England Patriots. The machine cannot be tackled because of its size compared to the human players, therefore leading to many touchdown catches as a wide receiver. In a recent commercial, Machine now plays for the New Orleans Saints, competing with running back Reggie Bush. Other commercials feature Diet Pepsi (the can) as an entertainer, represented by "agent" Jay Mohr, in a music video produced by Diddy ("Brown and Bubbly"), and an action film featuring Jackie Chan (Diet Pepsi is replaced by a "stunt double", a rival Diet Coke can, which is squashed by the villains)^{[citation needed]}. Diet Pepsi (the can) has also been portrayed as a great poker player winning hand after hand against Poker Champs Daniel Negreanu, Phil Hellmuth, and Scotty Nguyen.

A futuristic diet Pepsi bottle can be seen in the background of the Cafe '80s in Back to the Future Part II.

Health concerns

Diet Pepsi contains the artificial sweetener aspartame, which has been the subject of a vigorous public controversy regarding its safety and the circumstances around its approval. A few studies have recommended further investigation into the possible connection between aspartame and diseases such as brain tumors, brain lesions, and lymphoma. These findings, combined with alleged conflicts of interest in the approval process, have engendered vocal activism regarding the possible risks of aspartame.

Diet Pepsi is acidic; drinking acidic drinks over a long period of time can erode the tooth enamel, particularly when they are sipped throughout the day rather than consumed with food. Drinking through a straw is often advised by dentists as the drink is then swallowed from the back of the mouth and does not come into contact with the teeth. It has also been suggested that brushing teeth right after drinking soft drinks should be avoided as this can result in additional erosion to the teeth due to the presence of acid.