Coca-Cola Rolls Out New Healthy Soda With Fiber

With most people opting for healthier beverages, it is no wonder why Coca-Cola is brewing up a new concoction to capitalize on the growing trend. As soda sales have slowed to all-time lows over the past ten years, Coke is trying to bring a healthy soda to market that’s calorie-free, sugar-free, and loaded with fiber.

Coca-Cola Plus Fiber in Japan

The company spent more than ten years developing the beverage and was inspired by Metamucil. It claims to be useful for moving things through the digestive system. Although the product is only available in Japan, the company is confident that it will be patronized in all parts of the world.

So what does this Metamucil-inspired soda contain? It comes with five grams of fiber, which is 20% of the recommended daily needs of an average person. According to CEO James Quincy, this type of soda is one of the functional beverages that the company wants to introduce to consumers. The company is also planning to roll out a fiber packed version of its Canadian ginger ale.

This is not the first time that the firm has reinvented some of its products. In fact, Coca-Cola was very successful in marketing their low-calorie brands such as the Diet Coke and Coke Zero. Over time, the soda giant has reformulated its product, adjusted its ingredients, and improved its taste using natural ingredients. The fiber-rich soda is a testament that the company will go to great lengths to reinvent their brand to fill the needs of the changing times.

But Will It Be Popular Just Like The Others?

Coca-Cola has good intentions for producing this beverage, but the question is will consumers patronize it? Professor Marion Nestle from New York University doubts that it will. The nutrition and food studies professor also noted that Coke fanatics just do not want their soda to be tampered with and those who are seeking fiber in their diet can find other sources instead of relying on this product.

Another nutritionist, Felicia Stoler, noted that while the functional beverage niche is currently hot, this functional soda will not help alleviate the lack of fiber in the Western diet. She believes that people can get their daily fix of fiber by eating more fresh fruits and vegetables instead of gulping more Coke.

Nutritionists believe consuming too much artificially sweetened, and fiber loaded Coca-Cola may also give rise to other problems. In a study conducted by researchers from the Boston University School Of Medicine, they found out that consuming “healthy” artificially-sweetened drinks every day can increase the likelihood of stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and Type 2 diabetes.

Global sales for Coke fell by 1% last year. But the company is still positive in their move as their aim is to provide more options to sophisticated drinkers as well as catch the attention of health-conscious individuals.

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