PrintJones Soda Switches to Pure Cane Sugar
Jones Soda spent over $1M retrofitting their equipment to use pure cane sugar in their drinks instead of the industry standard, high-fructose corn syrup. "A Pepsi spokesman told The Wall Street Journal that Jones' claim that pure cane sugar is more healthful "just isn't true. Marketing a myth for a competitive advantage is irresponsible and short-sighted." Then Jones got a letter from the Corn Refiners Association, which doesn't like Jones' claims about sweeteners, either."
So why did Jones Soda make the switch? CEO Peter Van Stolk says customers have been asking them to switch from HFCS to sugar for years; "They want sugar, he said, "because it tastes better and they feel better about it because it's pure; it's sugar. They know what it is." Government corn subsidies keep corn sugar cheap but cane sugar tastes SO much better, regardless of whether or not it's better or just as bad for you as HFCS. If you're in the US, try picking up a bottle of Mexican Coke and do a taste test. Coke made with cane sugar has a crisp, cleaner taste and better mouthfeel, the difference will amaze you.
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5 Comments:
This is good. Although it should be noted that Mexican Coke usually mentions that the sweetener can be either sugar *or* high fructose corn syrup. I think I've tasted both varieties.
The glass bottle also helps give the mexican coke it's taste - slightly different from "pony cokes" (the smaller glass bottles), the aluminum cans, the 20oz bottles, the 2 liter bottles, and a regular soda fountain.
Dan Dickinson at 1:07PM on 02/06/07
Agreed, Dan. Interesting to note that Dr Pepper, in its home state of Texas, offers a cane-sugar version and that all the Texan ex-pats I know wouldn't dream of drinking the HFCS version when given the choice. I brought home a number of cans when I last visited, and it tastes so much better. I don't know how they hoodwinked Americans to drink HFCS crap, but it's a sad state. Kudos to Jones for helping reverse the trend. Now if they only had a Dr Pepper–like cola.
Adam Kuban at 5:23PM on 02/06/07
I've seen bottles of Mexican Coke in the US with labels on them that say HFCS that when peeled off show you the label printed onto the bottle that say sugar. I've heard the labels are sometimes put on there so the bottles can get through US customs!
I don't know how they hoodwinked Americans to drink HFCS crap
It's cheaper! ;)
lia at 5:35PM on 02/06/07
Jones Soda---BAD COMPANY...
HFCS high fructose corn syrup is responsible for a dangerous epidemic of obesity and diabetes. People under the age of 45 are “children of the corn.” Like Stephen King's thriller, they are reaping the consequences...
FROM WIKI:
Jones Soda announced that the company will launch its 12 ounce canned soda (January 2007) sweetened with pure cane sugar instead of high-fructose corn syrup. The brand will be called Jones Pure Cane Soda and will be sold as a 12 ounce can package. As of March 2007, a 12 ounce bottle of Jones Pure Cane Soda Root Beer lists in its ingredients "inverted cane sugar", which seems to mean the same thing as inverted sugar syrup, which, like HFCS, is a mixture of fructose and glucose.
BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP! SORRY EVIL CORPORATE AMERICA! I HAVE TO CALL YOU ON THIS BS!! I don't get involved in thinking that corporations are EVIL but THIS IS..they know EXACTLY what they are doing..marketing this to people who DONT KNOW...what INVERTED CANE SUGAR IS....some people ONLY buy SODA WITHOUT HFCS LIKE ME!
So....Was at the store last night..was buying some REAL CANE root beer from Goose Island RB company(which is YUMMMY)...saw the Jones "neat" packaging that said "REAL CANE SODA"...wow..I said..almost bought a case...picked up a bottle and read more..."INVERTED CANE SUGAR"...WOW WAS I PISSSSED! That is PURE EVIL! I will NEVER BUY JONES SODA NOW!...First because they LIE...Second because its made with the SAME CRAP AS HFCS!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A8003-2003Mar10?language=printer
http://www.supermarketguru.com/page.cfm/2925
Maverick at 11:53AM on 12/05/07
I though this blog explained the difference of Inverted Cane Sugar vs. HFCS for Jones...
http://www.bevreview.com/2007/06/18/update-jones-soda-cream-soda-pure-cane-soda-version/
It says:::
Your post compared HFCS with pure cane sugar, but I think there was still confusion about the differences. HFCS is produced from pure corn syrup by an enzymatic process which converts some of the glucose molecules that corn plants produce (their form of sugar) into fructose molecules (a different form of sugar).
Most HFCS’s are actually a mixture of pure corn syrup (100% glucose) and HFCS, and the percentages of each vary depending on the desired use of the mixture. Sugar cane plants produce a different kind of sugar than corn does, namely sucrose. The difference is that glucose is a single 6-carbon ring, while sucrose is actually made up of two rings, one 6-carbon ring and one 5-carbon ring.
Your explanation of “inverted cane sugar” is on the money, and so your question about whether inverted cane sugar is better than HFCS is a valid one. The truth is, both fructose (the 5-carbon sugar) and glucose (the 6-carbon sugar) are cyclic hydrocarbons, and as a result, your body breaks them down in similar processes.
However, the sugar molecules that the human body manufactures for energy by its own processes (from things like the carbs we eat) are always glucose. Therefore, in humans, the metabolic path that breaks down glucose is more efficient than the one that breaks down fructose. Also, if I had to venture a guess, the Jones Soda people may have a few environmentally friendly types in their organization who understand that our addiction to all things corn is not healthy for our bodies, our economy, or our environment
cthespots at 1:41PM on 02/05/08