I never thought I'd put the words "Pepsi" and "healthy" together, but here goes: Pepsi is launching a healthy version of their flagship soda called Pepsi Raw. Made from natural ingredients, it contains no artificial preservatives, color, flavor, or sweeteners. It appears to be lighter in color — is that the lack of corn syrup, artificial color, or something else? — but that's not the only thing it's light in. It's lighter in calories (90 compared to 120 in regular Pepsi), too.
The product is launching in the UK, but it'll only be available in select bars and clubs in seven cities: London, Manchester, Glasgow, Brighton, Birmingham, Leeds, and Liverpool. A larger distribution arrives later in the year, but no word on a US release.
So what do you think? Do you think soda can really be healthy? I'd really like to try it; I wonder if tastes like regular Pepsi, or will all the excess artificial be missed?
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Diane von Furstenberg
I'd definitely give it a shot. I love Pepsi, but sometimes the sugar in it is just overwhelming. If this had the Pepsi taste I like without all the added crapola, I'd definitely try it!
1I'd definitely try it.
2I'd try it. Makes you wonder why they put all that junk in there to begin with! I applaud this move. Maybe it will catch on.
3soda is soda...it suppose to be bad for you!!!
4What are the ingredients?
5I would try it too. I like that Pepsi is making healthier beverages these days. I really like their new Tava drink that doesn't have calories or caffeine. It is nice to have yummy, but healthy options because sometimes I get tired of just water.
6I'll pass...
7this is just like when Sprite changed their formula to all-natural. it tastes great!
8I read more about - I don't think it will taste anything like Pepsi - but still it's a sign of good things to come....
9oh, or maybe it's just "Natural Flavors" in Sprite, whatever that means
10i wonder how this tastes. did anyone see the new ad slamming Vitamin Water? is that legit?
11Now if we could just get stevia changed from being classified as a "dietary supplement" so that companies could use it instead of sugar, we would be all set.
12dcroan, I think they deserve to be slammed. There is way too many Calories in that stuff to be good for you. At least, just don't call it water.
I don't like Pepsi, but I wish all the soda companies would do this. I don't like paying so much for Dublin Dr. Pepper or Mexican Coke when I want a soda.
13This is so cool! I just hope they won't make it very expensive... the few things that are good for you are usually a little costly!
14How could it be healthy?
What are the ingredients?
Does it still have all of those other chemicals?
Unless it occurs naturally in nature, how could it be healthy.
15It's going to be pretty expensive.
16Hey folks - according to the daily mail, Pepsi Raw "has only natural ingredients including apple extract, plain caramel colouring, coffee leaf, tantaric acid from grapes, gum arabic from acacia trees, cane sugar and sparkling water."
17Good!
18does it still have caffeine? if so, i'm out.
19Ooh, this is perfect for me! I hope it comes to the US soon. xo.
20"Hey folks - according to the daily mail, Pepsi Raw "has only natural ingredients including apple extract, plain caramel colouring, coffee leaf, tantaric acid from grapes, gum arabic from acacia trees, cane sugar and sparkling water.""
Nah, I'll pass.
I'll stick to my unsweetened iced tea and sparkling mineral water.
21I usually just do water, but sometimes I do crave soda or something a little different. And hopefully this could fit the bill!
22i rarely drink soda nowadays, maybe a ginger ale or a sprite here or there, but i miss the Pepsi. i'll give this RAW a try if and when it comes to the U.S.
23bring it on! I wonder if it has less carbs? pepsi is more addicting for me than candy or snacks.
24I don't drink soda very often, but I'd be curious to taste this.
25doesn't 7-Up live off the idea that they are natural and have no artificials etc? they've done well for a long time so i could imagine that pepsi could do something there too. i would have to taste it - but to be honest - i've always been a diet soda person - so i don't know if i would really get into it - even if it was lower cal than the full figure version
26If it is as tasty as the CocaCola from Mexico, which is made with cane syrup, then I would definitely buy it. I would enjoy trying it just once.
27If it is as tasty as the CocaCola from Mexico, which is made with cane syrup, then I would definitely buy it. I would enjoy trying it just once.
28This sounds great. I like Pepsi, but I hate high fructose corn syrup and artificial sweetener. I usually go for the lesser of two evils (the artificial sweetener in my opinion, because I can't stand the gloppiness of drinking syrup).
29You know this would be great to introduce in the USA. High fructose corn syrup's ruining our lives, people! So this seems like a better alternative. Like they say in Skinny b$tch, soft drinks are a "chemical s-it storm"!
30I say BOO PEPSI (though my family owns stock). This was done by Jones Cola and other bottlers a long time ago. With their marketshare increasing Pepsi thinks small rather than acting large which is why they are alwys the 2nd brand in the marketplace and not the first.
If you really want to be innovative than across the board in all Pepsi products eliminate HFCS and replace it with cane sugar. Then work one each product to remove the other artifical addictives and replace them with natural ones that you know are readily available. This shows you have the ability to make a "better" product but won't.
31I'm going to try this if it ever becomes available in the U.S.
32i wanna try!
33I would give it a try. I get such a hankering for a bubbly, sweet soda about twice per month... I think this would be a good alternative. I avoid the "diet" sodas, as I think artificial sweeteners are e-vil...
34I'd certainly try it... I mean, I'll try anything once. And if it's made without all the gross corn syrup, I'll probably be able to enjoy the taste of Pepsi - which I enjoy - without the gross feeling of having it eat away at my teeth. Does anyone else feel like that when they drink soda, that you can practically FEEL it dissolving your teeth?
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