THE JAPAN NEWS

 

People need to be aware of heatstroke more than usual during summer. This year, many soft drink brands have newly introduced products focusing on heatstroke prevention.

The Japan Soft Drink Association sets its own standards for such products, designating the concentration of sodium from 40 to 80 milligrams per 100 milliliters. The standards are based on recommendations by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.
It has been particularly noticeable this summer that new varieties of long-selling drinks have hit the market as heatstroke prevention drinks.

Koimeno Calpis, released by Asahi Soft Drinks Co., is a thicker version of Calpis Water, with added salt from Miyakojima island, Okinawa Prefecture, to supply sodium.

Based on Suntory Honey & Lemon, which was launched 30 years ago, Suntory Beverage & Food Ltd. also manufactured a version named Suntory Honey & Lemon with Sodium using domestic salt.

One soda that has been commercialized to counteract against heatstroke, Coca-Cola System debuted its first variation of the Fanta series called Fanta Suika (Fanta Watermelon) this month.

Meanwhile, Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Ltd. released a product called Chelate Lemon Sparkling: Salty Lemon whose sodium concentration is relatively high at 60 milligrams per 100 milliliters. The current trend is introducing fruit-flavored soda with salt. An example is Sekai no Kitchen Kara Salty Lime Juice Soda made by Kirin Beverage Co.

An official in charge of counteracting heatstroke at the Environment Ministry said: “It is important to keep hydrated [in summer]. In that sense, these drinks are effective as long as nutrition and calories are well controlled.”

The official added that it is necessary to take an oral dehydration solution whose sodium concentration is higher when heatstroke symptoms are suspected or you sweat heavily during exercise.
 
 

The Yomiuri Shimbun