Aspartame is dangerous" say a lot of people.
No it is not" say a lot of scientists.
Scientists can't be trusted" say a lot of people.
People are illogical" says Spock (a scientist)."
"
We're losing sales...so we'll stop using aspartame" says Pepsi.
When I was a stock broker I learned that the market could remain irrational longer than I could remain solvent, which means I could be "right" in determining that a stock should go up or down but be wrong in my timing and end up broke if I don't adjust my sails according to the direction of the wind.
When you're in business, sometimes* the only fact that matters is sales. (*I say "sometimes" because if you determine something is wrong with your offering you have a moral/ethical reason to pull it from the shelf even if the public is unaware and buying it hand over fist.)
Pepsi responded to market demand.
Is aspartame dangerous?
I don't know for sure but I do know that drinking a lot of beer, soda, natural fruit juice, even water can kill you, so I'm a big fan of "everything in moderation,"…except sales.
I like making excessive sales.
Don't you want to make excessive sales?
