Pepsi Japan launched a new line of soda on Tuesday that it claims
blocks the body's absorption of fat.

Pepsi Special is infused with indigestible dextrin, a synthetic
dietary fiber. Even though dextrin has not been proven to have dietary
benefits for humans, it has been successfully tested on rats. Which,
apparently, is good enough for Pepsi and the Japanese government,
which has formally backed the soda manufacturer's claims.

The Japanese Ministry of Health says products carrying its FOSHU label
are "intended to be consumed for the maintenance/promotion of health
or special health uses by people who wish to control health
conditions, including blood pressure or blood cholesterol."

In order to received the FOSHU seal, products must meet the following
requirements:
Effectiveness on the human body is clearly proven
Absence of any safety issues (animal toxicity tests, confirmation of
effects in the cases of excess intake, etc.)
Use of nutritionally appropriate ingredients (e.g., no excessive use
of salt, etc.)
Guarantee of compatibility with product specifications by the time of
consumption
Established quality control methods, such as specifications of
products and ingredients, processes and methods of analysis

The average American drinks 44.7 gallons of soda per year, according
to 2010 statistics from the Beverage Marketing Corporation. That's
actually down from 51.5 gallons in 2005. So, it's easy to see how
consumers could be tempted by the idea of drinking a soda that
actually helps them lose weight.

But don't get your hopes up just yet.

"It's true that naturally occurring soluble fiber that's present in
oats, barley, cruciferous vegetables and the stuff in seeds and the
skin of apples does help block cholesterol absorption," Melina
Jampolis, a physician nutrition specialist and CCNhealth expert, told
Forbes. "But there's no publicly available evidence suggesting that
synthetic fibers do this, too."

Pepsi Special is reportedly being marketed primarily at young Japanese
men and comes packaged in a black and gold plastic bottle. And as
Forbes notes, this isn't the first "fat-blocking soda" to be unveiled
in Japan. Beer manufacturer Kirin launched its own fiber-infused soda
earlier in 2012.

Suntory, which distributes Pepsi products in Japan, doesn't stop with
the weight loss claims. On its website announcing the launch of Pepsi
Special, it also claims the soda can "calm the postprandial rise in
triglycerides in the blood."

SOURCE: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/pepsi-now-selling-fat-blocking-s...