Pepsi Introduces Fat-Blocking Soda

Pepsi(NEW YORK) -- Soda and healthy aren’t exactly synonymous, but Pepsi-Cola in Japan is trying to change that with a new fiber-infused drink.

Dubbed the “Pepsi Special,” the soft drink -- set to go on sale Tuesday -- contains dextrin, a fiber that distributor Suntory claims helps reduce fat levels in the body.

Eager to appeal to young, health-conscious men, Pepsi has put out a comical ad on its website showing a businessman trying to choose between a woman dressed in a pizza costume and another in a burger outfit. The message: you don’t have to give up either if you drink Pepsi Special.

Odd-flavored drinks are not unique in Japan’s $48 billion a year soft-drink market. Past Pepsi flavors include strawberry and milk, salty watermelon, and yogurt, to name a few.

This is Pepsi’s first venture into the healthy cola market. Rival Kirin, better known for its beer, released its own sugar-free, dextrin soda this summer: the “Mets” cola.