WHO Warns About Aspartame: Is Your Daily Diet Coke Putting You at Risk?

Diet Coke is having a moment in 2025, for reasons both sweet and sobering. Coca-Cola has quietly revived its beloved Diet Cherry Coke in limited-edition retro cans, tapping the nostalgia of 1980s branding and fueling an instant surge of social-media chatter. The rollout follows reports that another vintage flavor may also reappear after fans clamored for its comeback. But even as collectors rush to find the throwback cans, a new wave of research is sparking worry about the beverage’s long-term health effects. A study published this spring links consumption of two or more cans of Diet Coke per day to elevated risks of heart disease and stroke, renewing questions about artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and acesulfame K. Cardiologists interviewed by regional outlets have echoed the findings, advising patients to limit intake and choose water, tea, or flavored seltzer instead. Coca-Cola has responded by emphasizing that Diet Coke remains FDA-approved and citing the company’s ongoing investment in reduced-sugar formulas, including Coke Zero Sugar. Nevertheless, industry analysts say the brand is leaning on limited-time flavors and revamped ad spend to offset a multi-year sales dip among diet sodas. Key takeaways consumers should know: • Limited-run flavors like Diet Cherry Coke are expected to be in stores only through late summer; secondary-market prices are already climbing. • The new cardiovascular study is observational, not causal, but it adds to a growing body of evidence that frequent intake of certain non-nutritive sweeteners may affect vascular health. • Health professionals recommend capping artificially sweetened beverages at one can per day and alternating with unsweetened drinks. • Retailers report that “mini cans” (7.5 oz) are outselling standard 12-ounce packs as shoppers try to moderate consumption. For fans of the zero-calorie cola, moderation—and maybe a reusable water bottle—could be the smartest pairing with that nostalgic crimson-and-silver can this summer.