In the USA, major beer brands are finally publishing their ingredients

In response to calls from customers for greater transparency, along with a growing desire for products made with healthful ingredients, major beer brands in the United States are opening up about what they are made from. While other foodstuffs have long been required to list ingredients on their labels, alcoholic beverages are exempt from this rule. In fact, in the USA, most beers are not even required to list their alcoholic content. This may be changing. In reaction to an online petition by the food blogger Vani Hari, Anheuser-Busch, the maker of America's best-selling Budweiser and Bud Light, has agreed for the first time in its 138-year history to let their customers know what they are drinking. But why now? Apparently we are at a tipping point in the trend towards healthfulness. Moreover, transparency has become one of the most powerful trends in business. Interestingly, however, while Anheuser-Busch has said they will release their recipes, they have not done so yet. It is likely that they are looking to get the most attention they can for this "historic" announcement and are getting their marketing and publicity departments in high gear. Watch this space.