“It’s like replacing a cigarette with a cigar.”

Though, according to scientists, there may not be much of a difference health-wise between using sugar and high fructose corn syrup in sodas, it has become the new trend – and soda companies are hurting because of it.

That is why Pepsi has just announced that they will roll out three new types of their cola this summer that kick high fructose corn syrup to the curb: Pepsi Made With Real Sugar, Pepsi Vanilla Made With Real Sugar, and Pepsi Wild Cherry Made With Real Sugar.

But Vani Hari, a consumer activist, says, “Consumers shouldn’t only be worried about high fructose corn syrup, they need to investigate the entire label. For example, most people don’t know that consuming the ingredient ‘caramel coloring’ in Pepsi could be worse for them than the high fructose corn syrup.”

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics said, “There’s little evidence that HFCS differs uniquely from table sugar and other nutritive sweeteners in metabolic effects, subjective effects and adverse effects such as risk of weight gain.”

Nonetheless, American consumers continue to show concern about products that use HFCS.

real quick, if the 2nd ingredient is high fructose corn syrup preceded only by carbonated water that means I prob shouldn't drink right?

— Bronwyn (@bronsiobhan) April 15, 2014

Another popular soda trend lately has been the SodaStream device, a home carbonation product, which can be paired with over 100 different types of concentrated syrups and flavorings. A few independent vendors even offer specialty flavors with real cane sugar, which has been used in all of the popular Jones Soda varieties since 1995.

Orange you glad you have a #SodaStream? (Photo by @alexandralavoine) pic.twitter.com/6jByQ6cAVV

— SodaStream USA (@SodaStreamUSA) April 4, 2014

Pepsi hopes this new line of colas, which will be released in June, will reverse sales declines that have continued to drop over the past decade.

But that isn’t the only thing the 121-year old company has up their sticky-sweet sleeve. They are also leaning toward reducing the sugar and calorie content of their products by partnering with Senomyx, a biotechnology company that markets an ingredient called Sweetmyx. Sweetmyx, much like MSG, is said to “trick” the tongue into thinking things are sweeter or saltier than they really are.

In the meantime, Pepsi fans can look forward to sipping a cold icy glass of their favorite beverages this summer, real sugar and all.

Image via Wikimedia Commons