Is Pepsi Next the next big thing?

Apparently PepsiCo Inc. is hoping to slim down in time for bathing suit season this summer by offering a soda with only 40 percent of the calories of its full-calorie Pepsi-Cola soft drink. The new beverage, called Pepsi Next, will have 60 calories per 355 mL can. Regular Pepsi, in comparison, has 150 calories per can. Ehhhhh...I don't know what to think about this one. I'm definitely a diet soda gal (in case you hadn't figured that one out by now) so this news doesn't do much for me. However, I guess it's a good idea to offer other options for all those non-diet soft drink fans. What do you think? Would you prefer a mid-calorie drink to a full or low-calorie version? By the way, the recipe is still unclear, but a source said it might feature a mixture of high-fructose corn syrup, sucralose, ace-K and aspartame.

Diet soda doesn't raise diabetes risk...

For any of you worried about some of the online diet soda bashing of late, have no fear...yet another report has been issued that verifies the safety of the carbonated beverage. Woo hoo! A new Harvard University study claims there is no link between diet soda and an increased risk of developing diabetes.

According to results of the study, which followed a large group of men for 20 years, drinking sugary drinks often meant a person was more likely to get diabetes. However, that was not the case with sugar-free soft drinks, coffee or tea.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 40,000 men who were followed between 1986 and 2006. During that time, participants regularly filled out questionnaires on their medical status and dietary habits, including how many servings of regular and diet sodas and other drinks they consumed every week. About seven percent of men reported that they were diagnosed with diabetes at some point during the study.

The study found that men who drank the most sugar-sweetened beverages - about one serving a day on average - were 16 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than men who never drank those beverages.

Replacing sugary drinks with diet versions seems to be a safe and healthy alternative, the authors said in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

I'll raise a Cherry Coke Zero to that good news!

More Fanta, Less Serious?

Have y'all noticed all the Fanta ads lately? Apparently Coca-Cola has launched a massive global marketing campaign for all things Fanta in recent weeks. The "Less Serious" Fanta blitz features "bubbly animated characters as the catalyst to bring more play and a less serious attitude to life."
Psyop, the animation studio that created the “Happiness Factory” commercials and video clips for the Coke brand, developed the cartoon-like multicultural characters who are now popping up in television spots, billboards, print ads, online and through Facebook and YouTube. Anyway, the ads are catchy enough that I wandered around the mall earlier (yes, I had to spend the gorgeous day today looking for a dress for an upcoming wedding) trying to find a vending machine with Fanta Zero. While I struck out on the vending machine side, I did find a zero-cal Fanta version later today at a gas station, woo hoo!

Here are a few of the ads. They're pretty cute, don't you think?

Diet Coke Couture

Drinking a Diet Coke is about to get more trendy, courtesy of a bottle makeover by Karl Lagerfeld. The fashion icon has designed a round of limited-edition bottles that will be sold in June. The three new "Love It Light" designs feature Lagerfeld's signature silhouette and will be sold individually, as well as in prism-shaped collector's boxes. Lagerfeld is a huge fan of Diet Coke, having reportedly shed some 90-pounds a decade ago by going on a diet that consisted of stewed vegetables and Diet Coke. He's even rumored to have his own private Diet Coke butler.

This isn't the first time Diet Coke has gotten a stylish rejuvenation. Patricia Field of Sex and the City styling fame had her own bottle, as did fashion designer Roberto Cavalli. Lagerfeld's bottle design will only be available for a limited time. I don't know about you, but I can't wait to get my hands on one of those bottles. They are too cute!