Pepsi has released “Pepsi Throwback.” For about eight weeks this spring, Pepsi will be available without dreaded corn syrup. The name is clearly aimed at Generation TMZ’ers. The delicious caramel-colored nectar however, is a gift for us all. No more hunting down kosher or Mexican bottled soda for a non-corn syrup shot of low value carbs. Well, at least for the next few weeks.
Pepsi states that the soda is available for 8 weeks starting on or around April 20. I have yet to find it on the left coast yet. Disappointing indeed.
How did corn syrup become so omnipresent in American life? Cane sugar is a more commodity than good old American corn. Corn is also heavily subsidized in this country. The rest is simple economics. Why go through the trouble of processing and buying expensive cane sugar when the corn lobby has made sure that delicious (not) corn gunk can satisfy all for half the price? Marginally lower prices and much higher profits. Everybody wins. Well not quite, corn syrup tastes like……
Had consumers fought back en masse when Coke and Pepsi snuck corn syrup into the local 7-11, I assure you that both products would be made from cane sugar today.
Personally, I will boycott all Pepsi products once Throwback is taken off the market. I will also write Pepsi a letter telling them so. I can also urge others to do the same. Perhaps this will start a revolution. Coke will come out with Coke “Old School” others will launch “Intern Pepper” or “6-up.”
Small steps folks.
John Romano is the publisher and editor of Yes, But However!, a musician, a former political correspondent for BBC Radio London, and a serial web entrepreneur. Follow him on twitter: twitter.com/yesbuthowever or John Romano on Google+John Romano article archive.
