Japan okays world’s first ‘healthy’ cola

Tokyo: It's being called the world's first "healthy cola". Japan, that boasts of the world's most stringent food regulatory laws, has approved the world's first cola for being "beneficial to health". 

    The country's food regulatory authority has cleared 'Kirin Mets Cola' for the most 

sought after Foods for Specified Health Users (FOSHU) label. Japan's Health and Nutrition Food Association (JHNFA) says getting a FOSHU certification greatly boosts the credibility of approved products. 

    Colas aren't really known for their health benefits. They are usually packed with sugar and have been fuelling the global epidemic of childhood obesity. However, according to JHNFA, this FOSHU labelled cola has zero amount of sugar and contains an indigestible form of Dextrin—a compound used as a fibre supplement, which restricts the body's ability to absorb fat while eating. 

CHANGE THE GAME? 

New cola has zero amount of sugar 

Contains indigestible form of Dextrin – used as a fibre supplement 

Dextrin slows body's ability to absorb fat while eating 

Also helps in digesting food Japanese cola slows down fat absorption, helps in digestion 

Tokyo: Japan has approved a cola which is supposed to be good for health. The country's food regulatory authority has cleared 'Kirin Mets Cola' for the most sought after Foods for Specified Health Users (FOSHU) label. 

    Japan's Health and Nutrition Food Association (JHNFA) says getting a highly sought after FOSHU certification — that can sometimes take over six months and cost as much as a million yen — greatly boosts the credibility of approved products. 

    "When consumed with a high fat diet like a hamburger, the drink slows down the body's ability to absorb fat thereby saving you from putting on weight. It also helps in digesting the food easily," Akira Yabuki, general manager, department of FOSHU at JHFNA, told TOI. 

    Yabuki added, "We are very strict with who is given the FOSHU label. However, this was the first time that a cola was given such a FOSHU tag. It did satisfy requirements to be healthy. The drink doesn't contain sweeteners at all and tests have shown that the drink keeps levels of neutral fats low after eating." 

    Experts say the cola's target demographic is youngsters who love cola but are worried about their weight, as well as those who have stopped buying soft drinks for health reasons. A study said that aerated drinks increase the chances of heart disease by 20% among those sipping them daily. Also, people who drink diet sodas every day have a 61% higher risk of bursting a blood vessel. Even children, who consume 40–70 ml of soft drinks a day, may put on 3–5 kilos every year as one cola is equivalent to having seven to eight spoons of sugar at a time.