Like soda? Like vitamins? Well, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo. have the answer to all of your problems. Apparently. This coming Spring two new diet sodas will be introduced into the market, Diet Coke Plus ® and Tava®. They will be a combination of the effervescent yet calorie free wonders we’ve come to know and love and the vitamins that we so desperately need. The drinks will be fortified with vitamins B6, B12, Magnesium and zinc. But, don’t call these two wonders of modern chemical industrialism diet soda, nope, they are certified “Sparkling Beverages.”
I’m not totally down on diet soda, I drink it sometimes, and it’s a weakness. But, for the most part I like seltzer with a little bit of juice, I tend to go for the more organic, less chemically processed approach to food. But, I find this new marketing of diet soda as a health drink a bit on the absurd side. When I drink diet soda I’m fully aware that the product I’m about to imbibe is made of nothing that I could ever pronounce or create on my own. I drink at my own risk. On the other hand, I find that the soda industries need to find healthier alternatives, a bit encouraging. In fact, in a 2006 survey conducted by financial giant Morgan Stanley, only 10% of consumers considered diet sodas a healthy dietary choice (Thank the Heavens!), which was a great drop from the 14% in 2003. Plus, my own personal favorite statistic, 30% of those interviewed were reluctant to drink beverages with artificial sweeteners in them. I consider this a huge triumph for the people of this country. Money talks in this world, sad but true, and when consumers’ demand that their foods be held up to a certain standard, the producers of food will have to respond accordingly if they want to continue earning a profit.
Coca-Cola’s CEO, E. Neville Isdell is none too happy with the fact that for the first time in many a decade the soda industry’s sales have dropped significantly. The big winner in beverage sales is the good old standby H20, followed by juice and tea drinks. Mr. Isdell is apparently baffled at how the health food industry can overlook such healthy products such as Diet Coke ®. “Diet and light brand are actually health and wellness brands,” he recently said in response to soda products being linked to the countries growing obesity epidemic. Okay, I get it, no one wants to be the bad guy, and sure diet soda might not be as big of contributor to the obesity problems we’re currently facing as say, a daily dose of fried chicken, but phenylpropanolamine doesn’t exactly grow on trees.
So, vita-soda, will I try it? I don’t know, maybe. Will I laugh at myself as I do, absolutely! I’m grateful that the junk food/beverage industry is looking to find healthier alternatives to their classically nutrient-zapping products. It’s a start, and in time they may really find natural, healthy alternatives for the public to consider. For now, I think I’ll stick with seltzer and juice, I’m pretty sure there are some vitamins in there too.
I’m not totally down on diet soda, I drink it sometimes, and it’s a weakness. But, for the most part I like seltzer with a little bit of juice, I tend to go for the more organic, less chemically processed approach to food. But, I find this new marketing of diet soda as a health drink a bit on the absurd side. When I drink diet soda I’m fully aware that the product I’m about to imbibe is made of nothing that I could ever pronounce or create on my own. I drink at my own risk. On the other hand, I find that the soda industries need to find healthier alternatives, a bit encouraging. In fact, in a 2006 survey conducted by financial giant Morgan Stanley, only 10% of consumers considered diet sodas a healthy dietary choice (Thank the Heavens!), which was a great drop from the 14% in 2003. Plus, my own personal favorite statistic, 30% of those interviewed were reluctant to drink beverages with artificial sweeteners in them. I consider this a huge triumph for the people of this country. Money talks in this world, sad but true, and when consumers’ demand that their foods be held up to a certain standard, the producers of food will have to respond accordingly if they want to continue earning a profit.
Coca-Cola’s CEO, E. Neville Isdell is none too happy with the fact that for the first time in many a decade the soda industry’s sales have dropped significantly. The big winner in beverage sales is the good old standby H20, followed by juice and tea drinks. Mr. Isdell is apparently baffled at how the health food industry can overlook such healthy products such as Diet Coke ®. “Diet and light brand are actually health and wellness brands,” he recently said in response to soda products being linked to the countries growing obesity epidemic. Okay, I get it, no one wants to be the bad guy, and sure diet soda might not be as big of contributor to the obesity problems we’re currently facing as say, a daily dose of fried chicken, but phenylpropanolamine doesn’t exactly grow on trees.
So, vita-soda, will I try it? I don’t know, maybe. Will I laugh at myself as I do, absolutely! I’m grateful that the junk food/beverage industry is looking to find healthier alternatives to their classically nutrient-zapping products. It’s a start, and in time they may really find natural, healthy alternatives for the public to consider. For now, I think I’ll stick with seltzer and juice, I’m pretty sure there are some vitamins in there too.
For More information- New York Times:Makers of Soda Try a New Pitch: They're Healthy
1 comments:
I'm sure that with the dollar losses they are being faced with, the soda industry is scrambling to get back into the market. Personally, if I want a soda, I drink a sugared soda and just know I have to work out longer. Not sure I would want my children or grandchildren thinking any kind of soda pop was good for them.
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