Soccer Dad

Shades of Willie Wonka

Now this is a revolting development:

Jones Soda Co. takes the idea of a liquid diet to a new low. How does Green Bean Casserole Soda strike you? And how about an aggressively buttery-smelling Mashed Potato Soda?

Even the creators of the fizzy concoctions at this small Seattle soda company can hardly stomach the stuff. But last year's unexpected success of the Turkey & Gravy Soda means another round of bizarre food-flavored soft drinks. As an added bonus — they're calorie-free.

This week Jones Soda Co. launches a full meal deal of five Thanksgiving soda flavors, from the bile-colored Green Bean Casserole to the sweet — but slightly sickly — Fruitcake Soda. Last year's Turkey & Gravy is also back on the menu.

Sounds like "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Remember Willie Wonka developed a gum that could substitute for a whole meal? But he didn't perfect deserts. When Violet Beauregard (did I remember the name correctly?) chewed the gum she blew up into a large blueberry. Now you can have a whole meal of soda, not gum!
At least there's something positive:

This year Jones plans to produce up to 15,000 five-packs of the 12-ounce bottles, which come complete with utensils (a straw and a toothpick). The sodas may not be as satisfying as a real holiday meal, but they can boast being both calorie- and carb-free, not to mention vegan and kosher.

Kosher? Thanks but no thanks.
There's a different literary reference that the reporter notes though:

Jones isn't the only company to find that people have a certain fascination with foods that make you go "yuck." There's the real-life version of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, made famous by the Harry Potter (news - web sites) books and featuring tastes like Vomit, Booger and Earthworm. And millions of Americans regularly tune in to reality shows to watch contestants eat things like spiders and snails.

Hmm. Are the Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans kosher? The article doesn't say.
Bon Appetit.

Posted by SoccerDad at November 9, 2004 05:32 AM | TrackBack