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Pepsi NEXT, a mid-calorie soda, to debut in spring

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For those discerning drinkers who scoff at zero-calorie cola but are fussy about their figures, PepsiCo thinks its upcoming Pepsi NEXT low-sugar beverage hits the sweet spot in the middle.

The drink, which has been in testing in Iowa and Wisconsin since July, has 60% less sugar than a standard Pepsi can, with 60 calories for every 12 ounces compared with the usual 150 calories.

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The beverage maker now plans to start selling Pepsi NEXT nationwide in the spring, according to the Associated Press. But don’t call it diet -- PepsiCo says the new soda tastes like its full-calorie beverages.

Hopefully, the new offering fares better than previous mid-calorie attempts such as Pepsi XL and Pepsi Edge.

Soda sales are slipping amid an increased nationwide focus on health, with Coke volume down 0.5% in 2010, Diet Coke falling 1% and Pepsi-Cola tumbling 4.8%, according to Beverage-Digest.

Several major restaurant chains, including Denny’s and Chili’s, have pledged to offer soft drink-free meal options for children as part of the Kids Live Well campaign. Michelle Obama recently extracted a promise from Darden Restaurants to make 1% milk the default beverage on its children’s menus.

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-- Tiffany Hsu

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