New Cane Sugar Soda at H-E-B

SN STAFF

SAN ANTONIO — H.E. Butt Grocery Co. has expanded its line of store-brand carbonated soft drinks made with pure cane sugar. The Texas-produced line, called H-E-B Pure Cane Sugar Sodas, includes three new flavors: Orange Burst, Wild Red and Old Fashioned Root Beer.

The sodas join two existing flavors: Original Cola and Dr. B. All five come packaged in bottles.

"The whole family will enjoy the crisp clean sweetness of a soft drink made with no high fructose corn syrup and pure cane sugar, like soft drinks used to be," H-E-B states in promotional materials.

The new flavors come at a time when a growing number of consumer packaged goods manufacturers are replacing high fructose corn syrup with cane sugar and other natural sweeteners. HFCS has become a controversial ingredient in response to concerns that it may contribute to the obesity epidemic.

The Corn Refiners Association counters that HFCS is a corn starch-based sweetener that's fine in moderation.