Pepsi Zero Sugar: Calories, Nutrition and Health Benefits

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Pepsi Zero Sugar has 0 calories, 0g sugar, 0g carbs and 40mg sodium in a 12 fl oz can, plus 38mg of caffeine. It is sweetened with aspartame and acesulfame potassium, so it adds no carbohydrate and does not raise blood sugar directly. Regular Pepsi has 150 calories and 41g sugar in the same can. In the UK the same drink is sold as Pepsi Max.

Quick Nutrition Facts

Per 1 can (12 fl oz, 355 mL)

Nutrient	Amount
Calories	0 kcal
Protein	0g
Carbohydrates	0g
Fiber	0g
Sugars	0g
Fat	0g
Sodium	40 mg

Macronutrient Breakdown

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NUTRITIONIST'S INSIGHT

A can of Pepsi Zero Sugar adds nothing to your calorie or carb count, so it is an easy swap for regular Pepsi if the goal is cutting added sugar. The tradeoffs are small: 38mg of caffeine (under half a cup of coffee), 40mg of sodium, and phosphoric and citric acid, which wear on tooth enamel if you sip all day. The WHO's 2023 guideline advises against relying on non-sugar sweeteners for long-term weight control, so treat it as a step away from sugary drinks and keep water or sparkling water as most of what you drink.

Myth Busters

MYTH #1: Pepsi Zero Sugar spikes blood sugar like regular Pepsi

TRUTH: The label shows 0g sugar per can, so there is no sugar to convert into glucose. Regular Pepsi has 41g of sugar and 150 calories in 12 fl oz. Pepsi Zero Sugar - 12 fl oz; Pepsi - 24 fl oz

MYTH #2: The aspartame in Pepsi Zero Sugar is proven to cause cancer

TRUTH: In July 2023 IARC classified aspartame as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B) on limited evidence, while JECFA kept the acceptable daily intake at 40 mg per kg of body weight. A 70 kg adult would need more than a dozen cans a day to reach that limit. Aspartame hazard and risk assessment results released; Aspartame and Other Sweeteners in Food

MYTH #3: Zero-calorie soda guarantees weight loss

TRUTH: The WHO's 2023 guideline found no long-term body-fat benefit from non-sugar sweeteners and advises against using them for weight control. Swapping a regular cola for Pepsi Zero Sugar cuts calories that day but guarantees nothing. WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control

MYTH #4: Pepsi Zero Sugar still has 69mg of caffeine

TRUTH: The US label now lists 38mg per 12 fl oz can, the same as regular Pepsi. The older figure of 69mg applied before the recipe change in late 2022, and other countries may still differ. Pepsi Zero Sugar - 12 fl oz; Pepsi - 24 fl oz

MYTH #5: Pepsi Zero Sugar is the same drink as Diet Pepsi

TRUTH: They are separate formulas. Both have 0 calories, but Pepsi Zero Sugar has 38mg of caffeine and 40mg of sodium per can versus 35mg and 35mg in Diet Pepsi, and it uses a different flavor profile. Pepsi Zero Sugar - 12 fl oz; Diet Pepsi - 24 fl oz

NutriScore by Health Goals

Health Goal	NutriScore	Why This Score?
Weight Loss		Zero calories per can replaces a 150-calorie regular cola. It stops at B because the WHO found no long-term weight benefit from sweeteners and the drink gives no fullness. Pepsi Zero Sugar - 12 fl oz; WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control
High Protein		0g protein per can. It contributes nothing toward a protein target. Pepsi Zero Sugar - 12 fl oz
Low Carb / Keto		0g carbs and 0g sugar per can, so it fits any carb limit including strict keto. Pepsi Zero Sugar - 12 fl oz
Heart Health		Only 40mg of sodium and no fat, but the WHO guideline notes possible long-term cardiovascular associations with regular sweetener use, based on observational data. Pepsi Zero Sugar - 12 fl oz; WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control
Diabetes Management		No carbohydrate means no direct glucose load, so it beats regular cola. The WHO guideline does not apply to people with pre-existing diabetes. Pepsi Zero Sugar - 12 fl oz; WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control
Nutrient Density		No vitamins, fiber or protein, and no meaningful minerals beyond trace sodium. Pepsi Zero Sugar - 12 fl oz

PERSONALIZED NUTRITION

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Blood Sugar Response - Pepsi Zero Sugar (1 can / 355 mL)

With 0g carbohydrate and 0g sugar, Pepsi Zero Sugar gives the body no glucose to absorb, so a healthy adult's blood sugar stays near its fasting baseline for the full 2-hour window. Any small movement comes from the rest of the meal, not the can. Pepsi Zero Sugar - 12 fl oz; WHO advises not to use non-sugar sweeteners for weight control

Estimated Blood Glucose Response (mg/dL)

Illustrative baseline for a healthy adult drinking one can on its own. Meals eaten with it, and individual insulin sensitivity, change the real curve.

How to flatten the spike

Log it as 0g carbs, and carb-count the food you drink it with.
Drink it with a meal that has protein and fiber so the meal's carbs rise more slowly.
Replace regular soda with it instead of adding it on top.
Alternate with water or sparkling water to keep total sweet-taste exposure down.

Cultural Significance

PepsiCo launched the drink in 2007 as Diet Pepsi Max, a zero-sugar cola with extra caffeine aimed at men who avoided "diet" branding. It became Pepsi Max in most of the world and was renamed Pepsi Zero Sugar in the US in 2016, with a caffeine cut to 38mg in late 2022. In the UK, where it is still sold as Pepsi Max, it is a common answer to the soft drinks sugar levy.

Compare & Substitute

Pepsi Zero Sugar vs Similar Foods

Nutrient	Pepsi (12 fl oz)	Diet Pepsi (12 fl oz)	Coca-Cola Zero Sugar (12 fl oz)	Plain sparkling water (12 fl oz)
Calories	150 kcal	0 kcal	0 kcal	0 kcal
Protein	0g	0g	0g	0g
Carbohydrates	41g	0g	0g	0g
Fat	0g	0g	0g	0g

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories are in Pepsi Zero Sugar?

A 12 fl oz can has 0 calories, 0g sugar and 0g carbohydrate on the US label. Bigger bottles stay at zero calories; sodium and caffeine scale with volume.

Does Pepsi Zero Sugar have caffeine?

Yes, 38mg per 12 fl oz can on the US label, about the same as regular Pepsi. Caffeine levels differ by country, so check the can you are drinking.

What sweeteners are in Pepsi Zero Sugar?

The US ingredient list shows aspartame and acesulfame potassium. It also contains caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavor, potassium benzoate, citric acid and calcium disodium EDTA.

Can I drink Pepsi Zero Sugar with diabetes?

It contains no carbohydrate, so it does not raise blood glucose directly and counts as 0g in carb-counting plans. The WHO sweetener guideline does not apply to people with existing diabetes. Ask your care team about daily limits if you drink several a day.

Is aspartame in Pepsi Zero Sugar safe?

JECFA reaffirmed an acceptable daily intake of 40 mg per kg of body weight in 2023, and IARC listed aspartame as possibly carcinogenic (Group 2B) on limited evidence. The FDA says it has not found safety concerns at current levels of use.

Is Pepsi Zero Sugar better than regular Pepsi?

For calories and sugar, yes: 0 versus 150 calories and 0g versus 41g sugar per 12 fl oz can. Both are acidic and have similar caffeine, so tooth wear is about the same.