Fat-blocking Pepsi debuts in Japan. How exactly does that work?
Pepsi Special is about to debut in Japan, alongside Japan’s other wacky Pepsi flavors such as ice cucumber. Only Pepsi Special isn’t an actual flavor, but it’s a special concoction that uses chemical magic that’s supposed to block fat. Meaning it’s better than 0 calories, it’s negative calories.
Pepsi Special is well, “special,” because of the addition of dextrin. It’s a water-soluble fiber supplement that can make you feel more full and have some reduction of fat absorption effects. Basically, it’s the same thing as Benefiber.
Plus, we all know what extra fiber can help move things along — for lack of a better way of putting it.
So this is a major breakthrough right? Well, that’s hard to say as the Pepsi press release didn’t get into how much sugar or corn syrup they might be putting in the drink to achieve what their release, courtesy of Google Translate calls, “[an] aftertaste [that is] crisp refreshing and unique.”
That means there could still be a fair amount of calories in the drink despite the fat absorption effects of the dextrin.
The addition of the dextrin and its fat blocking benefits has bumped the drink up into the government-approved category in Japan. Another dextrin soda, Kirin Mets Cola has also received the Japan Health Food & Nutrition Food Association.
A bottle of Pepsi Special will sell for about $2 in Japan starting on November 13.
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