PepsiCo brings back aspartame as diet cola sales fizzle

NEW YORK - PepsiCo said Monday it is putting aspartame back into some diet beverages in the United States, just a year after pulling the artificial sweetener from its products over consumer concerns about safety.

"Consumers want choice in diet colas, so we're refreshing our US lineup to provide three options that meet differing needs and taste preferences," a PepsiCo spokeswoman, Gina Anderson, said in an email to AFP.

The move comes as PepsiCo struggles with fizzling diet-cola sales.

Diet Pepsi's sales volume fell 5.8 percent in 2015 and dropped roughly 11 percent at retail during the first quarter of 2016, according to data from Beverage Digest cited by Bloomberg News.

The US beverages and snacks giant said in April 2015 it would replace aspartame-sweetened Diet Pepsi with versions sweetened with a blend of sucralose, commonly known as Splenda, and acesulfame potassium in August.

At the time, PepsiCo said that consumers wanted aspartame-free drinks. The trend came amid studies that linked aspartame to cancer.

But now American consumers appeared willing to mix up their artificial sweeteners, according to the company.

PepsiCo said it will use aspartame in its reintroduction later this year of Diet Pepsi Classic Sweetener Blend and PepsiMAX as PepsiZeroSugar.

Diet Pepsi, its main diet cola brand in the US, will remain sweetened with sucralose and Ace-K, it said.

Aspartame and sucralose are approved for human consumption by the US Food and Drug Administration.

In late 2014, Coca-Cola launched Coca-Cola Life, its first reduced-calorie soft drink sweetened with cane sugar and stevia leaf extract, a natural herbal sweetener.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Meet British entrepreneur giving 'matcha' a new twist

LONDON -- "Matcha," a powdered form of green tea, is one of Japan's most traditional ingredients and the centerpiece of the Japanese tea ceremony.

In Britain, a start-up business has devised a novel way to use the powder, which has recently become a popular flavoring for cakes, chocolate and green tea lattes.

James Shillcock, a young British entrepreneur, has created an energy drink using matcha, which he believes is a healthy alternative to caffeinated beverages such as coffee and conventional energy drinks.

Branded "Vivid Drinks," the product combines matcha powder with traditional British flavors such as pear, rhubarb and elderflower. The new item went on sale in 2013 and has now made its way to the shelves of numerous department stores and health food outlets around the country.

Shillcock had the idea while working at a specialist tea shop catering to office workers in London's financial district. Having received some matcha powder from a supplier, he tried it, felt a "healthy boost" and then started creating his own matcha drinks at home.

"I used to blend matcha up at home with fresh lime, ginger and honey, put it in a blender and then strain it," Shillcock said. "It was an unbelievably refreshing drink. I got all my family drinking it and they thought this is a great product."

After nine months of testing, finding a place to produce the drink and raising funds, Vivid's matcha drink finally hit the shelves. Since then, the product has been mentioned in national newspapers and has even been presented as an example of Britain's push to encourage young entrepreneurs to start their own businesses.

The drink sells for 1.85 pounds (about 310 yen) for a 330 milliliter carton and is now stocked in over 200 independent sites around Britain as well as a major supermarket chain.

Although matcha is still relatively unknown in Britain, Shillcock feels that knowledge of the health benefits of green tea have helped to spread the word.

"I think it is getting very widely accepted that green tea is good for you. This is something we're lucky to have on our side," Shillcock said.

"This is not some fad that's going to be here today, gone tomorrow. Green tea has been around for centuries and it has been in the press for years now for its health benefits and its antioxidant levels," the entrepreneur added.

"Our job is to get the message across about matcha. We've been saying matcha is the world's most powerful green tea," he said.

Shillcock has big ambitions for his matcha-based drink and hopes to expand outside Britain in the future, with Germany earmarked as a possible source of further growth.

"I know that this will be popular internationally," he said. "Germany has a really vibrant matcha market. As you can get coffee, you can get matcha there. That's a really buzzing market that we want to look at next."

As for taking the drink to matcha's home in Japan, Shillcock is a little more cautious. The entrepreneur will visit Japan later this year to meet his matcha suppliers for the first time, but he said he wants to "test the water" before potentially selling the item in Japan.

"I would love to (sell in Japan) but I don't know what the response to it will be," he said. "Whether there will be a reluctance to it because it's not how it's supposed to be drunk or whether people will really accept it and go 'this is a really innovative way of drinking it or presenting it.'"

For now, Shillcock is determined to increase matcha's profile in Britain, a process that he believes is key to the product's continued success.

"We want to really own matcha in Britain and really be the brand that brings it to the mass population," Shillcock said. "Ultimately we want everyone in the country to know what matcha is. I really believe in matcha so I want to make sure that we spread the word."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Why rice is now a popular ingredient in cosmetics, drinks

TOKYO - Rice has become an increasingly popular ingredient in a variety of cosmetic products and beverages amid a decrease in consumption of what used to be Japan's main staple.

In June 2012, Kose Provision Co. launched lotions and creams containing extracts made by fermenting and maturing rice.

The affiliate of major cosmetics maker Kose Corp. claims that the cosmetics series dubbed "Maihada" are effective in moisturizing skin.

The lineup, which is available only on a mail order basis, has gradually become popular and the number of members who have signed up for the online shop has exceeded 100,000, according to officials of Kose Provision.

The officials also explained that its members include those who shifted from European and U.S. cosmetics brands, believing that the Maihada series made from rice must be safer and better for their skin.

"With more and more consumers pursuing safe cosmetics, we sought to develop unique products made from Japanese materials, which we assumed no rivals would think of," said Yosuke Takahashi, an official in charge of product planning at Kose Provision.

Takahashi said the company has received a number of inquiries about the Maihada series from consumers abroad in English and Chinese.

Kirin Beverage Co., meanwhile, released in May this year a sugar-free tea made 100 percent from domestic rice. By steaming and roasting rice, the tea tastes slightly sweet and has the flavor of roasted rice.

Since it is free of caffeine and sugar, the "Nippon Komecha" has been enjoyed by children and people who drink it before going to bed, according to the major beverage maker.

The tea is the first 100 percent pure rice soft drink, according to Momoko Azuma, a Kirin Beverage official who developed the product.

"Since it has a strong rice flavor, some consumers have told us that they use the beverage when making bread or as soup stock," Azuma said.

In Japan, rice consumption has been diminishing over the years as society is rapidly aging and an increasing number of consumers prefer Western food over traditional Japanese dishes.

A recent survey by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry showed that single households spent an average 10,367 yen on rice a year, lower than 13,022 yen on bread and even 13,018 yen on supplements.

Against this backdrop, the Prince Park Tower Tokyo hotel in Tokyo's Minato Ward has organized an event to promote rice consumption.

In the event held in early November, about 30 women learned proper ways to wash and boil rice and tasted five different rice brands.

The women kept throwing questions at the instructor, such as, "What kind of water will you recommend when washing rice?" or "How should I preserve rice?"

The participants also enjoyed a buffet of salads and desserts made from rice.

One of the women, a 27-year-old public office worker said, "I often have bread for breakfast, but am now interested in eating the rice brands I especially enjoyed here."

A hotel official, who planned the event, said, "We hope our hotel can serve as a source of information to help people realize the greatness of rice once again."

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Coca-Cola buys Brazil's Spaipa for $1.855-B

MEXICO CITY - Mexico's Coca-Cola FEMSA, the largest Coke bottler in the world, announced Saturday it has acquired Spaipa of Brazil in a $1.855 billion deal.

The all-cash transaction will increase Coca-Cola FEMSA's volume by 40 percent in Brazil.

Although it has been approved by Coca-Cola FEMSA's board of directors, the deal is still subject to the approval of Brazil's antitrust authority. Coca-Cola FEMSA will also try to obtain the approval of The Coca-Cola company.

From June 2012 to June 2013, Spaipa sold 233.3 million cases of beverages, including beer, for $905 million in net revenue.

"We continue to create a robust platform in Brazil with the acquisition of the second largest privately owned bottler in the system, operating in one of the regions with the highest GDP per capita in the country," Coca-Cola FEMSA chief executive Carlos Salazar Lomelin said in a statement.

"We are privileged to serve as many consumers in Brazil as we do in Mexico, and our company will benefit from the talented and experienced employees of the Spaipa franchise."

The deal comes on the heels of Coca-Cola FEMSA's purchase of Brazilian Coke bottler Companhia Fluminense de Refrigerantes for $448 million.

Coca-Cola FEMSA produces and distributes Coca-Cola, Fanta, Sprite, Del Valle and other beverages from The Coca-Cola Company in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala ,Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, the Philippines and Venezuela.

The company has 63 bottling facilities and serves more than 321 million consumers through 2,700,000 retailers with more than 100,000 employees worldwide.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Bacon cheesecake, anyone?

MANILA -- URBN Bar and Kitchen has introduced a different kind of happy hour with new bar chow and dessert offerings to go with their signature drinks.

Chef Benjo Tuason’s new menu features versions of popular local drinking food, gourmet-style.

You can’t go wrong with the Homemade Potato-Chips (P250)---crisp and thin, with a choice of aioli or pesto dip. The Black Benny Fries (P250), the restaurant’s version of Canada's popular street food, the poutine , features hand-cut fries, smoked bacon and cheese and smothered in gravy. Just like the poutine, this was salty and best paired with a cold drink.

If you’re a fan of rashers, you can’t go wrong with the Country Fried Bacon (P350). Bacon cooked a la country fried chicken, with the breading and mushroom gravy, make for a highly flavorful bite.

But if you’re looking for something a little “delicate,” we recommend the Caramelized Onion and Bacon Tartlets (P260), with flaky melts-in-your-mouth crust, sweet-salty bacon and onion and a pesto cream topping.

If burgers are more your thing, URBN serves Mini Blackbenny Angus Burgers and Mini Curried Shrimp Burgers (P260 for three pieces; P520 for six) . The Angus burger was juicy accompanied with bacon, mild cheddar, onion jam and aioli, while the shrimp burger had just the right curry kick.

URBN’s version of the buffalo wings was the innocuously named Sticky BBQ Chicken Pops (P350), also one of its bestsellers. Those who enjoy spicy food would love this dish. One fiery bite after another, accompanied by a tasty, albeit a bit runny Roquefort dip.


Sisig was said to be the inspiration of the Lamb Hash (P350). This simple mix of lamb and potatoes made everyone say “yum” at the first bite of its sweet, salty, fatty, meaty goodness. Best paired with a cocktail, a beer or a cup of rice, this dish is a must-try.

Pizzas

Chef Tuason also introduced four new URBN pizza flavors.



The All-Meat with BBQ Sauce Pizza (P410) was a terrific marriage of the sweet barbecue sauce and generous chunks of roast beef, chorizo and salami. Creamy and cheesy, the Seafood Pizza (P380), with shrimps, white fish and scallops, was a seafood lover’s dream, nicely accentuated with anchovies and a pesto sauce drizzle.

URBN’s version of the Four Cheese Pizza (P370) didn’t include a bleu or a green cheese. But those looking for intense cheese flavors will still be happy, as it features sharp cheeses like manchego, cheddar and parmesan, with mozzarella for added texture.

Vegans will have no cause to complain with the Vegetarian Pizza (P320), with caramelized onions giving a sweet zing to this pizza, complementing the mushrooms, capsicum and olives.

Desserts

Cheesecake lovers will enjoy the new dessert offerings of URBN, as it features not one, but three new cheesecakes.

Ferrero lovers will go crazy over the Nutella and Candied Hazelnut Cheesecake (P250), while the Chocolate Brownie Cheesecake (P250), with its thick brownie “crust,” marbled cheesecake, topped with more brownie slices and nuts, will make both brownie and cheesecake lovers approve.

"Trippy" was one of the words used to describe the last cheesecake, the Maple Bacon Cheesecake(P250). This is definitely a must-try for bacon lovers and those that enjoy sweet, salty, and creamy in one bite.

But the lone, non-cheesecake dessert was hands-down the best of the bunch. With a name like White Chocolate and Cookie Butter Love-Ah Cake (P270), it came with many expectations. But these were more than met by this dessert, which had wonderful texture and balance. Silky white chocolate lava flowed from a cake that was buttery and had a hint of saltiness, which was a great balance to the sweet molten center. While the cookie butter center was a little bit hard to find, when taken with the rest of the cake, it truly made the dessert excellent, with or without the vanilla ice cream.

As URBN turns into one of the best places to dance in Manila after 10 p.m., the drink list is extensive, but you can’t go wrong with a mojito (order the Strawberry Mojito—it’s to die for!), a margarita, or even the Godfather.

Drink, sip, and definitely eat.

Urbn Bar and Kitchen is located at the Fort Pointe II Building at the Fort Strip of Bonifacio Global City. Happy hour happens every weekday from 6-9pm, buy one, take one on local beers and selected cocktails.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Diet soda tied to heart attack, stroke risks: study

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Diet soda may benefit the waistline, but a new study suggests that people who drink it every day have a heightened risk of heart attack and stroke.

The study, which followed almost 2,600 older adults for a decade, found that those who drank diet soda every day were 44 percent more likely than non-drinkers to suffer a heart attack or stroke.

The findings, reported in the Journal of General Internal Medicine, don't prove that the sugar-free drinks are actually to blame.

There may be other things about diet-soda lovers that explain the connection, researchers say.

"What we saw was an association," said lead researcher Hannah Gardener, of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. "These people may tend to have more unhealthy habits."

She and her colleagues tried to account for that, Gardener told Reuters Health.

Daily diet-soda drinkers did tend to be heavier and more often have heart risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes and unhealthy cholesterol levels.

That all suggests that people who were trying to shed pounds or manage existing health problems often opted for a diet soda over the sugar-laden variety.

But even after the researchers factored in those differences -- along with people's reported diet and exercise habits -- they found that daily diet soda was linked to a 44-percent higher chance of heart attack or stroke.

Nevertheless, Gardener said, it's impossible for a study to capture all the variables that could be at work.

The findings do build on a few recent studies that also found diet-soda drinkers are more likely to have certain cardiovascular risk factors, like high blood pressure or high blood sugar.

This is the first study, Gardener said, to look at actual "vascular events" -- that is, heart attacks, strokes and deaths from cardiovascular causes.

The findings are based on 2,564 New York City adults who were 69 years old, on average, at the outset. Over the next decade, 591 men and women had a heart attack, stroke or died of cardiovascular causes.

That included 31 percent of the 163 people who were daily diet-soda drinkers at the study's start. In contrast, 22 percent of people who rarely or never drank diet soda went on to have a heart attack or stroke.

There was no increased risk linked to less-than-daily consumption. Nor was regular soda tied to heart attacks and strokes.

If diet soda, itself, somehow contributes to health risks, it's not clear how, Gardener said.

There's research in rats suggesting that artificial sweeteners can end up boosting food intake and weight. But whether results in rodents translate to humans is unknown.

"I don't think people should change their behavior based on this study," Gardener said. "And I wouldn't advocate drinking regular soda instead."

Regular soda is high in calories, and for people who need to shed pounds, experts often suggest swapping regular soda for the diet version.

A study out this month found that the advice may be sound. Obese people who were randomly assigned to drink water or diet drinks in place of sugary ones lost about five pounds over six months.

Gardener said that further studies such as hers are still needed to confirm a connection between diet soda and cardiovascular trouble.

Ultimately, she noted, clinical trials are considered the "gold standard" for proving cause-and-effect. That would mean randomly assigning people to drink diet soda or not, and then following them over time to see if there were differences in their rates of heart problems or stroke.

A study like that, Gardener said, would be "difficult and costly" -- since it would have to follow large groups of people over many years, and rely on people to stick with their assigned beverages.

source: mb.com.ph