Budweiser lists ingredients for first time

NEW YORK (AP) -- The King of Beers is bowing down to a food blogger.

Anheuser-Busch unveiled the ingredients of Budweiser and Bud Light for the first time Thursday, a day after a popular food blogger started an online petition to get major brewers to list what's in their beverages.

Anheuser-Busch, which also makes Beck's, Busch and Michelob beers, said it will list the ingredients for all of its other brands online "in the coming days."

On its website, tapintoyourbeer.com, Anheuser-Busch lists the same ingredients for Budweiser and Bud Light: Water, barley malt, rice, yeast and hops.

The company said it is not required to list ingredients for its products, but will do so as Americans demand it.

"We want to meet their expectations," the company said in a statement.

The online campaign, started Wednesday by blogger Vani Hari at FoodBabe.com, now has more than 44,000 signatures. It also asks MillerCoors, the maker of Miller Lite and Coors beers, to list its ingredients. MillersCoors did not respond to a request for comment.

"I am thrilled with Anheuser-Busch's quick response and can't wait to see the ingredients of all of their beers online," she said.

Hari has become a powerful voice in the food industry. She is the same blogger who pushed sandwich chain Subway to remove an ingredient in its bread that's also used in yoga mats. Subway has since removed that ingredient.

She chose to petition beer makers because her husband drinks beer and she wants to be able to see what she is buying.

Representatives from Anheuser-Busch invited Hari and her family to visit its brewery in St. Louis and see how its beers are made. Hari said she is working with the company to figure out a time to visit.

Anheuser-Busch is part of the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev.

_____

Follow Joseph Pisani on Twitter at https://twitter.com/josephpisani