Fiber Supplement Offers New, 'Berry' Good Option: Metamucil(R) launches first-ever fiber supplement with Berry Burst! flavor

CINCINNATI, June 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Metamucil(R) has announced a new and delicious way to help Americans get gorgeous guts this spring with the addition of Berry Burst! powder to its number one fiber supplement lineup. Berry Burst!, like all Metamucil products, contains 100 percent fiber from psyllium husk and is a delicious way to help lower your cholesterol* and beautify your inside.

"New Berry Burst! Metamucil is an important step for us in the fiber marketplace," said Metamucil brand manager Dick Podiak. "Because fiber plays such an important role in lowering cholesterol and heart health, we are excited to offer consumers a great tasting option so they can join in the fun of getting gorgeous guts."

Despite the fact that beauty has historically been viewed as what someone possesses on the outside, the truth is that part of looking good is feeling good on the inside as well. To maintain gorgeous guts, the National Academy of Science suggests that Americans consume 21 to 38 grams of total fiber each day, or just seven grams of soluble fiber from psyllium such as that found in Metamucil. However, the average American consumes only 10 to 15 grams of total fiber each day

"With a new great tasting fiber option like Metamucil's Berry Burst! on the market, consumers will be hard-pressed to come up with an excuse not to consume the recommended daily intake of fiber," says registered dietitian Amanda Carlson of CorePerformance.com. "Fiber is so important in the daily diet because of its contributing factors, including helping to reduce heart disease risk by lowering cholesterol. Everyone should be beautifying their inside!"

Dietary fiber, also known as roughage or bulk, includes all parts of plant foods that your body can't digest or absorb. Fiber is often classified into two categories, insoluble fiber and soluble fiber, the latter of which is most important in a low cholesterol diet. Soluble fiber, as found in Metamucil, may form a gel in the stomach, entrapping food, sugars, cholesterol and fats before carrying them through the digestive tract. Good sources of soluble fiber include oats, beans, peas, many types of fruit and vegetables, and psyllium husk.

Berry Burst! Metamucil is now available at retailers nationwide in 48, 72 or 114-dose canisters. For more information on Berry Burst! or fiber, log onto: http://www.metamucil.com/.

About Metamucil

Created and marketed for the first time in 1933 by G.D. Searle & Co., Metamucil powder was purchased by Procter & Gamble in 1985. Made with 100% natural psyllium fiber, Metamucil is the only leading brand marketed as both a fiber laxative and a dietary fiber supplement. Metamucil comes in a variety of forms (powder, wafers and capsules) and flavors (regular, Orange and Berry Burst!) to fit any lifestyle when you are looking to increase your fiber intake. Metamucil is the number one recommended doctor and pharmacy fiber product. For more information, visit http://www.metamucil.com/ or call Metamucil at 1-800-983-4237.

About Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG)

Three billion times a day, P&G brands touch the lives of people around the world. The company has one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Pampers(R), Tide(R), Ariel(R), Always(R), Whisper(R), Pantene(R), Mach3(R), Bounty(R), Bounty Super Duty(R), Dawn(R), Pringles(R), Folgers(R), Charmin(R), Downy(R), Lenor(R), Iams(R), Crest(R), Oral-B(R), Actonel(R), Duracell(R), Olay(R), Head & Shoulders(R), Wella, Gillette(R), and Braun. The P&G community consists of almost 140,000 employees working in over 80 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and in-depth information about P&G and its brands.

* As part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol