Coca-Cola just added a laxative to its product in Japan and called it Coca-Cola Plus. This, apparently, is what gets you good sales in Japan. The Japanese, it would appear, are keen to drink something “cleansing," shall we say.

And now Coca-Cola is it.

Two years ago Coca-Cola introduced a new “Life” product, with half the sugar of its standard product, but none of the artificial sweetener of its “Diet” product. Instead it uses Stevia, a natural plant sweetener. Some people are concerned about artificial sweeteners and want a more natural alternative.