Originating in China around 220 B.C., kombucha was discovered by, and thus named after, Dr. Kombu who brought the drink to Japan to serve to the ailing emperor. In the early 20 th century, as a result of trade route expansions, the fermented tea was brought to Europe and eventually to the U.S.
Unfortunately, kombucha may cause some problems and may not be the healthiest option for some people. As the drink becomes more and more popular, more controversies arise. Our Loop and River North Nutritionist, Sue Smith, LDN, is sharing some top controversies on the drink!īelow are five possible reasons you may want to rethink kombucha as your beverage of choice. In 2010, the production of GT’s brand kombucha was halted for 2 months following a bottle audit at the Whole Foods store in Portland, Maine. Not only were some of the bottles leaking but the alcohol content came into question. It was found that the bottles contained slightly over 0.5% to over 2.5% alcohol, well above the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau’s regulation. This regulation states that non-alcoholic beverages contain less than 0.5% ABV. The concern was that children would have access to it and have alcohol in their system and use it to become “buzzed”. Manufacturers are now more conscious of the alcohol content but the drink still contains a small amount. By law, the definition of a non-alcoholic beverage is less than 0.5% by volume. Some manufactures have a warning on their bottles which reads, “Should not consume if avoiding alcohol due to pregnancy, allergies, sensitivities or religious beliefs”. Kombucha is considered a non-alcoholic beverage but know that it does contain a small amount.
Higher Calorie CountĪlthough many people enjoy the taste of kombucha, it is not a low-calorie beverage. Some kinds of kombucha can have up to 120 calories per serving. That is almost as many calories as a 12 oz. can of regular Coke! Consuming an occasional kombucha won’t cause significant weight gain but drinking it daily may contribute to excess calorie consumption. People who frequently drink it are more likely to be overweight or obese than those who don’t. The bottles can be deceiving because a typical bottle contains 2 servings so you may be consuming more calories than you realize. Not only is kombucha a higher-calories beverage but it also can have a high sugar content. The sugar is necessary for the fermentation process and “feeds” the yeast and bacteria. The agency’s website notes, “The combination of sugar and yeast triggers fermentation, which may produce a kombucha with an alcohol content of 0.5 percent or more alcohol by volume.” The fermentation may continue after the tea is shipped, and sometimes causes bottles to explode.Some kombuchas may contain 28 grams of sugar, the equivalent of 7 teaspoons. Folks deserve to know what they’re drinking,’’ said Thomas Hogue, a TTB spokesman. “There are people who can’t drink for religious or health reasons.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), which sent out the warning letters, says it wants to enforce warning labels, minimum age requirements, special taxes and other alcohol regulations.
“Nobody’s saying, ‘let me get a six-pack of kombucha and get wasted tonight,’’’ said Hannah Crum, President of Kombucha Brewers International, a trade group that represents dozens of producers. The company argues the government’s method of testing is faulty. Millennium says its products’ alcohol content is below the U.S. Beer contains about 5 percent alcohol, the article notes. One of the complaints alleges alcohol levels of up to 3.8 percent. The company makes GT’s Enlightened and Synergy brands of kombucha tea. engaged in deceptive practices in alcohol-content labeling. The Wall Street Journal reports two consumer complaints seeking class action status were filed in October in California that claimed Millennium Products Inc. The fermented tea has become one of the country’s fastest-growing bottled drinks. Federal regulators have warned some makers of kombucha tea that their drinks have alcohol levels above one-half of 1 percent, which makes them alcoholic drinks under the law.
0 kommentar(er)
