Keep on cutting the carbs
innovation, with functional food makers also choosing to reassess
the carb count of their products.
The Healthy Beverage Company this week said it was launching a low-carb green tea drink, tapping into two of the biggest consumer trends.
The 'low carb' diet is estimated to be followed by over 50 per cent of weight-conscious Americans. LowCarbiz, the weekly trade newsletter of the low-carb industry, estimates that total sales of low-carb products and services in 2003 will surpass $15 billion. The newsletter recently reported that low carb products are being introduced at a rate of almost three a day.
The beverage industry is also enjoying a boom but attention is increasingly focusing on the health effects of artificial sweeteners used especially in so-called 'health' or diet drinks.
The Healthy Beverage Company has launched an organic diet drink made from organic Ceylon green tea and fortified with vitamins A, C and the Hawaiian stevia plant. The drink is sweetened with organic cane juice, making it suitable for carb-conscious consumers, according to its manufacturer.
"Diet Steaz will revolutionize the diet drinks industry," said Eric Schnell, co-Founder of the Healthy Beverage Company. "It tastes great, it's low in carbs and it's good for kids and adults alike. No other diet drink has ever been able to achieve that."
LowCarbiz is organising what is said to be the first business conference examining opportunities and risks in the low-carb manufacturing and retailing industry, taking place in Denver, Colorado on January 22-23, 2004. It will target manufacturers and retailers serving programs such as Atkins and the new South Beach Diet.
