New study broadens anti-soft drink claims

The debate over the health consequences of soft drinks has escalated dramatically.

A new large-community based study says both diet and regular soft drinks are associated with substantially increased metabolic syndrome risk among middle-age adults.

In other words, says the study, even one glass of soda daily may indicate an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, as reported in Circulation, the Journal of the American Heart Association.

Men and women who drank more than one soda daily had a 48% adjusted higher prevalence and 44% higher roughly eight-year adjusted incidence of the cluster of heart disease risk factors than those who drank less, said the report.

Metabolic syndrome was defined having at least three of the following risk factors:

• Waist circumference at least 35 inches for women or at least 40 inches for men.
• Fasting blood glucose at least 100 mg/dL.
• Serum triglycerides at least 150 mg/dL.
• Blood pressure at least 135/85 mm Hg.
• High-density lipoprotein cholesterol lower than 40 mg/dL for men or 50 mg/dL for women.

The study was supported through National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute contracts and by an award from the American Diabetes Association to one of the researchers. The researchers reported no conflicts of interest.

As with all major studies, there are various angles to interpretations. The best report I've seen on the topic appears on the online report called MedPageToday.

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Massachusetts toy plant bottled up

Ice River Springs Water Co., a Canadian company, has purchased for $4.1 million former toy company warehouse in Pittsfield, MA, which it will use to manufacture and fill plastic bottles for customers in the northeast United States.

The company said spring water will be trucked to the plant from Vermont, where it will be given its own and private label brands for retail and wholesale markets.

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Honest Kids a new line of organic drinks

Looking for something a little healthier for the kids? Honest Tea has released a line of organic kids’ drinks called Honest Kids.

The company says each variety, packaged in a 6.75-ounce pouch, is certified organic and contains less than half the sugar and calories of other kids’ drinks on the market while providing a day’s supply of vitamin C.

The Bethesda, MD, company has created three flavors — Berry Berry Good Lemonade, Goodness Grapeness and Tropical Tango Punch. The pouches are packaged in eight-count boxes and can also be sold individually.

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Not every success is a household name

Ever hear of Reed's sodas? Join the crowd.

However, someone must know about the Los Angeles soda maker whose company sells $14 million worth of product a year, a line of nine soft drinks that includes root beer but is dominated by ginger ales.

It's been a long road for owner Chris Reed who has been a cryogenic engineer, a stock broker and a rock guitarist, but he has hit his stride now. CNBC has an interesting video interview with the entrepreneur.

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So, now it's news?

Having spent the bulk of my adult life as part of the MSM, as bloggers now refer to the "mainstream media," I usually try to avoid mentioning certain things for fear of seeming self-important now that most of my efforts are directed online.

But, sometimes, mind you, the MSM is way behind the curve in topical news. I find that happens with particular regularity in coverage of the beverage industry.

The latest example: Barron's Online has an item today about the switch from high fructose corn syrup to cane sugar as a beverage sweetener. An interesting topic, and certainly one of great importance to dollar-minded businesses and health-conscious consumers. But it's not new news, even from such a paragon of business reporting as Barron's.

As evidence, here are links to my stories on the topic -- published back on April 22 and May 22.

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Business makes for a strange brew

Snapple, which has advertised its drinks as "made from the best stuff on Earth," may be bought by Coca-Cola, which didn't remove dangerous chemicals from its Fanta and Vault drinks until sued by a consumer group.

Industry reports say Coca-Cola may form an alliance with private equity bidders circling Cadbury's $15 billion U.S.-based soft drinks business by bidding for Snapple, the fruit and iced-tea drink brand.

Speaking at a conference in Geneva, Switzerland earlier this week, Coca-Cola chairman and CEO E. Neville Isdell said, “That is a valuation we undertake, whether (Snapple) is of interest to us or whether we can do it on our own.”

The Wall Street Journal reported that Coke already has approached private equity groups involved in bidding for Cadbury’s drinks business about taking on its Snapple and Mott’s brands under a pre-sale agreement. A Cadbury’s spokesperson would say only that the group was focused on selling its drinks business, which also includes 7UP and Dr Pepper, as a “total entity.”

Cadbury’s several months ago announced plans to separate its confectionery and soft drinks business under pressure from shareholder Nelson Peltz who bought Snapple for $300 million in 1997 before selling the brand as part of a $1.45 billion package to Cadbury’s three years later.

Coke, seeking to expand its range of ready-to-drink and non-carbonated products, the fastest growing sector in the drinks industry, already has purchased Fuze Beverage and Energy Brands Inc. The $4.1 billion price for Energy Brands, which makes vitamin-enhanced water, was the largest deal in Coke’s history.

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