Coke and Pepsi can still use 'diet' on labels and ads

The FTC allowed the Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo Inc. to retain the word 'diet' on their ads and labels while the FDA said it will still review the plea.

The Federal Trade Commission declined the U.S. Right To Know's call for an investigation regarding the misleading use of the word 'diet' on soda drinks particularly Coke and Pepsi, Fredericksburg reported.

The California-based consumer group, 'U.S. Right To Know', had filed a petition five months ago calling U.S. Food and Drug Administration to ban beverage labels with the word 'diet' if they contain artificial sweeteners including aspartame. 

Mary Engle, FTC associate director for advertising practices said they will not take additional action at this point. "We considered a number of factors related to resource allocation and enforcement priorities, as well as the nature of any FTC Act violation and the type and severity of any consumer injury."

Gary Ruskin, the co-director of the group regrets the FTC's decision over the deceptive use of the word 'diet' in the soda products. It was proven many years ago that sugar substitute adds up in gaining weight. "Ample scientific evidence links artificial sweeteners to weight gain, not weight loss. I do believe that 'diet' soda will go down in U.S. history as one of the greatest consumer frauds ever," CNN Money gives details.

On the other hand, according to Fox28, an official from FDA advised the group that they will need more time to consider its complaint.

NutraSweet, the brand name particularly containing aspartame, has been used in diet soft drinks like Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi.

After the consumer group filed the petition, PepsiCo declared they will discard NutraSweet in Diet Pepsi, Wild Cherry Diet Pepsi, and Caffeine Free Diet Pepsi. Instead, it will be replaced by Sucralose like Splenda and acesulfame potassium like Ace K.

From brain damages to cancer issues, sugar substitute has been a subject of safety concerns since it was approved by the FDA 30 years ago. Though still, it was a triumph for soft drinks industry as Right To Know waits for the FDA's final decision.