Pepsi and Coke Looking To Replace Dangerous Aspartame With Natural Stevia In Diet Sodas

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A race to develop natural, zero-calorie sweeteners is bubbling up in the nation's $100 billion beverage industry.

PepsiCo Inc. said Tuesday they will reformulate its beverages with natural, no-calorie sweeteners such as stevia, an herb grown in South America and Asia, and to find new ones.

Soft drink sales are falling as people look to cut calories and worry over other sweeteners such as high fructose corn syrup and aspartame.

Rival Coca-Cola Co. is likewise looking for sweetener alternatives like stevia.

"We think the scramble is on to get the taste profile, and it seems like both companies are close to it," Coke spokesperson said.

The possibility of a tax on sugary beverages, which some health leaders and lawmakers are calling for to fight obesity, makes the search all the more important.

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