Just Because That Dr. Pepper Has Retro Packaging Doesn't Mean It's Got Real Sugar In It

A few weeks back, we wrote about how Dr. Pepper is celebrating its 125th birthday with retro packaging and a real-sugar formula. However, a number of Consumerist readers have written in to complain that they purchased what they thought was real-sugar Dr. Pepper, only to find out it was the same old HFCS-containing soda in old packaging.

Reader Neil sent in this photographic evidence of a 12-pack with the anniversary packaging, but without an ounce of real sugar to be found. A quick check of the ingredients list finds High Fructose Corn Syrup right there near the top.

Consumerist can confirm — mostly because we’ve already consumed a few 12 packs of it — that there are non-HFCS Dr. Peppers out there. So please check that you packaging says “made with real sugar” on the outside, and it couldn’t hurt to double-check the ingredients.

Do you think this is a deliberate attempt by Dr. Pepper to trick people into thinking they’re buying real-sugar soda?

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