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LiveScience.com Thu Jan 5, 12:00 PM ET Despite what many may have heard, drinking soda does not increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer. In fact it might protect against it, a new study finds.Cases of cancer affecting the esophagus, the muscular tube linking the mouth and stomach, in the United States have more than tripled since the 1970s. And in the past 50 years, Americans have increased their annual consumption of carbonated soft drinks nearly five-fold, from 10.8 gallons in 1946 to a whopping 42.2 gallons in 2000. The two trends are strongly correlated and in 2004, Indian researchers...

Coke to phase out Vanilla Coke in U.S NEW YORK (Reuters) - Coca-Cola Co., the world's largest soft drink maker, said on Friday it would phase out its Vanilla Coke, Vanilla Diet Coke and Diet Coke With Lemon beverages in the United States by end of this year. Coca-Cola shares were down 1.1 percent in afternoon trading on the New York Stock Exchange. The announcement came a day after Coca-Cola said it would phase out Vanilla Coke and Vanilla Diet Coke in the United Kingdom early next year. The company said sales have declined. Coca-Cola added that it plans to...

May 6, 2005 ATLANTA (CP) - The Coca-Cola Co., the world's biggest soft drink maker, said Monday it will begin selling Diet Coke sweetened with sugar substitute Splenda in the spring. Rival PepsiCo Inc., meanwhile, said it plans to reformulate its single-calorie drink Pepsi One with the sweetener as well. Shares of a major manufacturer of Splenda's key ingredient rose on the news. Diet Coke with Splenda will have a distinct label with the name of the sweetener on it as well as a yellow streak. Coca-Cola will continue to sell traditional Diet Coke, which is flavoured with aspartame, separately....

Straight from Michael Moore's front page, his "To Do" List... CALL ON THE GERMAN FEDERAL PROSECUTOR TO INVESTIGATE RUMSFELD AND OTHER U.S. OFFICIALS FOR WAR CRIMES AT ABU GHRAIB

As Sen. Mitch McConnell introduces a bill to stop lawsuits that target restaurant and food manufacturers for their customers' obesity, a woman steps forward claiming she’s addicted to Diet Coke and she’s planning on taking legal action. Hear her interview at http://www.phxnews.com/fullstory.php?article=5909

Firemen in Germany had to use a 38.5-toncrane to hoist a German man weighing 660 pounds out of his apartment and take him to hospital, the fire brigade in the northern city of Hamburg said on Monday. "Because the man was so heavy, we couldn't carry him on one of the normal stretchers, so we had to use the crane," said Hamburg fire brigade spokesman John Ralfs. Ten firemen were needed to lift the 63-year-old man onto a hospital bed placed inside a large industrial container, which the crane had hoisted level with his first-floor balcony. The crane then lowered...