From Pharmacy Drink to Billion-Dollar Corporation: Pepsi in Check

Pepsi did not start as a party drink, but as a digestive mixture: In 1893, pharmacist Caleb Bradham in North Carolina developed a syrup from sugar, lemon oil, and cola nuts, which he called "Brad's Drink." It was only later that it became "Pepsi" – named after the enzyme pepsin, which was supposed to support healthy digestion.

From Price Advantage to Global Corporation

Pepsi achieved its international breakthrough in 1939 with an aggressive pricing strategy. With the slogan "Twice as much for a nickel," the company advertised double the amount of cola for half the price – hitting the nerve of the time. In 1961, it merged with snack manufacturer Frito-Lay. Pepsi became PepsiCo, a corporation with a current annual revenue of around 90 billion US dollars – almost twice as much as Coca-Cola. The corporation includes well-known brands such as Doritos, Lays, 7Up, Mountain Dew, Cheetos, Rockstar, and Bluna.

Coca-Cola or Pepsi – A Taste Test

The rivalry between Pepsi and Coca-Cola is legendary. In a blind test by ZDF, 23 out of 35 participants chose Coca-Cola as the better taste. However, there is an important difference: In 2021, Pepsi changed its formula and reduced the sugar content to only 4.6 grams per 100 milliliters – about half of Coca-Cola. This change not only affects the taste but also the perception of consumers.

Reduced Sugar, But Not Without Concerns

Those who believe that drinking with less sugar is automatically healthier are mistaken. The ZDF documentary points to studies that attribute an increased diabetes risk to the sweetener sucralose used. According to Britta Schautz from the Consumer Center Berlin, the reduced-sugar Pepsi is "okay," but by no means suitable for regular thirst quenching – only for occasional enjoyment.

Broadcast Dates on ZDF

The documentary "besseresser: The Truth About Pepsi" will be broadcast on ZDF on the following dates:

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.