
A Soft Drink with a Hard Mission: Functional Soda
The high-fiber, lower-sugar soda-startup Ollipop is officially a unicorn. The company raised $50 million in its Series C funding round at a valuation of $1.85 billion. The funding comes as both Coke and Pepsi are preparing entrants into the 'healthy soda' market. CEO Ben Goodwin joined Bloomberg Open Interest to talk about what's next for his company and the "healthy soda" category. (Source: Bloomberg)

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
7Up's Original Formula Contained A Substance That Really Put The 'Up' In The Drink
Back at the turn of the 19th and early 20th century, when soft drinks like Coca-Cola and Pepsi were first created, it was mainly pharmacists who came up with these beloved (and demonized) drinks with the idea of creating health tonics. As an example, Pepsi was named after the medical term for indigestion, that is, dyspepsia. But back then, what was considered healthy was a bit different from today. While Coke actually contained small amounts of cocaine, 7Up contained lithium, a mood-stabilizer that today is used to treat bipolar disorder and some forms of depression. 7Up's inventor -- Charles Leiper Grigg, who wasn't a pharmacist -- highlighted the use of lithium citrate, a naturally occurring alkali metal with psychotropic (or mood altering) effects, in his soda. He allegedly named it Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon Lime Soda, but it was more likely simply called 7Up from the beginning. The meaning of this mysterious moniker has been lost to time, but the "up" part may be related to lithium's enhancing effects. A the time Grigg created his new drink, lithium was a bit of a mystery and didn't come into use as a psychiatric drug until around 20 years later. Read more: 11 Ginger Ale Brands, Ranked From Worst To Best Charles Lieper Grigg, who had started the Howdy Corporation in 1920, began working on the formula for a new lemon-flavored soda. In a crowded field of around 600 competitors, he needed to find a way to stand out. By 1929, just weeks before the stock market crash that helped lead to the Great Depression, Grigg had perfected his new soda. There were a few key differences between his new concoction and the competition. It was a lemon-lime soda with a bit less sugar and more fizz. And, of course, there was the lithium. Among the supposed curative effects of 7Up, Grigg successfully promoted it as a hangover cure, which is funny considering that a few decades later someone came up with the idea of combining Seagram's 7 and 7Up, a hugely popular highball in the 1970s and (likely) the cause of more than a few hangovers. Also like Coke, which had removed any cocaine from its soda by 1929, 7Up removed lithium in 1948, after studies determined the possibility of serious side effects from its overuse. Even without the lithium, 7Up continued to grow in popularity, knocking out the competition, such as the now-discontinued Sierra Mist. The days of drug-laden soft drinks are over, but their descendants live on. Read the original article on Chowhound.


Newsweek
a day ago
- Newsweek
Dr Pepper Recall Issued After Sugar Mix Up in Thousands of Cans
A recall has been issued for thousands of cases of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar that were mislabeled and contained the full-sugar product, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The products were distributed to retailers in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Newsweek contacted Keurig Dr Pepper, which owns the product in the United States, and PepsiCo, which bottled the beverages, for comment via email outside of regular working hours. Why It Matters This mislabeling poses potential health risks to consumers, particularly for individuals managing conditions like diabetes or those monitoring their sugar intake The FDA has issued a Class II risk classification for the recall, indicating that the consumption of the mislabeled products may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences. What To Know The FDA said the company-initiated recall affects 19,203 cases of Dr Pepper Zero Sugar 12-fluid ounce cans, sold in 12-pack and 24-pack cartons. The affected cans were produced at a Pepsi bottling facility in Jacksonville, Florida, which is licensed to manufacture Keurig Dr Pepper products, according to the FDA. The affected products have the product code XXXXRS05165, and a best-by date of February 16, 2026. The recall was initiated on May 23, 2025, and the FDA classified it as a Class II recall on June 5, 2025. A can of regular Dr Pepper contains 39 grams of sugar, while the Zero Sugar version has zero grams, but contains the artificial sweeteners aspartame and acesulfame potassium. There were 241 FDA food and beverage recalls in 2024, which was an increase of eight percent from the previous year, according to a report published by the nonprofit Public Interest Research Group. Undeclared allergens or ingredients was the single biggest cause for recalls that year. Last year, Dr Pepper tied with Pepsi to become the second most popular soda in the U.S. after Coca Cola, according to data from Beverage Digest. What Happens Next The FDA and Dr Pepper are working to ensure that all affected products are removed from store shelves promptly. Consumers in the affected states should remain vigilant and check their purchases to ensure they have not bought the mislabeled product.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Soda Recall: Dr. Pepper Zero Sugar cans contain full sugar
A labeling blunder has prompted a recall of 19,000 cases of Dr. Pepper Zero Sugar. The 12 oz aluminum cans distributed out of Pepsi's Jacksonville, Florida facility contain full sugar, according to the Food and Drug Administration. The recalled products were shipped to locations in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, the FDA said. The affected cans were packaged to be sold as 12 packs and 24 packs and have a 'best by' date of February 16, 2026 and product code XXXXRS05165. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.