USA, New York: Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. is campaigning against "The South Beach Diet," the bestselling book it claims is spreading nutritional misinformation about beer, Reuters revealed on April 22. The book, published in 2003, prohibits any alcohol for the first 14 days, and only recommends reintroducing wine in later stages because of wine's antioxidant properties. Since the book's publication in 2003, author Dr. Arthur Agatston and his associates have backpedaled on the prohibitions against beer, but only on Internet message boards at that require membership to view.

When questioned online by a dieter, Agatston replied that all the alcoholic beverages, when consumed in moderation, appear to have favorable effects on heart disease and diabetes prevention, and he specifically mentioned Michelob Ultra as a better choice than "high-carb" beers. Anheuser-Busch wants a more public statement, so it is taking out full-page ads in 31 newspapers, at a cost of nearly $1 million, to clear beer's name. The ads will run on Friday.

According to Agatston's book, "Maltose, the sugar in beer, has a higher glycemic index than white bread. The insulin response to it leads to the fat storage in the abdomen that we call, quite accurately, the beer belly." Anheuser-Busch said these statements were all false, as there is simply no maltose in common beers. Maltose gets converted to alcohol and carbonation in the fermentation process, it said.

"Excess fat is caused by the intake of too many calories regardless of the source, and where your body stores that fat is a matter of genetics and your gender," said Anheuser-Busch spokeswoman Francine Katz. "Beer is actually very low in carbs, and people counting their carbs don't have to feel guilty about enjoying a beer," said Katz.

Thanks to the current popular aversion to carbohydrates, St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch has enjoyed a significant cash stream from its low-carb beer, Michelob Ultra. The fast selling product now has competition from Adolph Coors Co.'s Aspen Edge. Katz said the campaign was not meant to denounce low-carb dieting. "We're not criticizing Dr. Agatston or his diet, but he's just dead wrong about beer," Katz said. One of Anheuser-Busch's brewmasters followed the diet but continued to drink beer, and lost 15 pounds, she said.

South Beach Diet representatives did not immediately answer a request for comment. Based on interim federal guidelines, which define low-carb as having less than 7 grams per serving, most "light" beers are low-carb. Bud Light, for example, has 6.6 grams per serving, compared with regular Budweiser's 10.6 grams. Michelob Ultra has 2.6 grams.

However, the Alcohol, Tobacco, Tax and Trade Bureau, which regulates the alcohol industry, said this month it would prohibit advertising and labeling that claim low-carb alcoholic drinks may play a healthy role in a diet, as these claims ignore the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.

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