Towards the end of the 1990s, more than a decade and a half after Diet Coke was first intr

oduced, sale of Coca Colas best-selling low calorie drink appeared , to slow down. However, in the decade that followed, diet sodas grew by more than 30 percent. In 2009, sales pushed above $ 8. 5 billion for the first time. But Americas thirst for Diet Coke is running dry again-and this time it could be for good. The diet soda slowdown isnt merely an American thing—its also happening worldwide. But the future of diet colas is particularly cloudy in the United States. Low calorie sodas are fighting a hard battle against not one but two trends among American consumers. The first is that overall soda consumption has been on the decline since before 2000. Diet sodas, though they might come sugar-and calorie-free, are still sodas, something Americans are proving less and less interested in drinking. The second, and perhaps more significant trend, is a growing mistrust of artificial sweeteners(甜味剂). " Consumers attitudes towards sweeteners have really changed," said Howard Telford, an industry analyst. "Theres a very negative perception about artificial sweeteners. The industry is still trying to get its head around this. " Comment 1 Add me to the number of people addicted to diet colas who quit drinking soda altogether. I honestly think soda is addictive and Im happy not to be drinking it anymore. Comment 2 Perhaps the slowdown has something more to do with the skyrocketing cost of soft drinks. Comment 3 I LOVE diet drinks! Am I unhealthy？ Who knows？ I guarantee have a better physique than most 43-year-old men. Comment 4 This is a silly and shallow piece. The reason for the fall off is simply the explosion in consumption of bottled waters and energy drinks. Comment 5 As people learn more about health and wellness they will consume less sugar, less soda, less artificial sweeteners.

What do we know about diet soda sale？

A．It began to undergo a gradual drop starting from 2000.

B．It was on the decline since the 1990s but is on the rise now.

C．It reached its peak in the 2000s but began to drop since then.

D．It has been decreasing since the 1990s.