Self-heating drinks the next big thing?

Imagine being able to heat your coffee anywhere in the world without a microwave or coffee pot or other gadget for heating. Does that sound ideal? It does to me!

Lakeside Foods in rural Wisconsin has created packaging for liquids that allows users to heat them with a push of a button. They call the drinks self-heating, and the heating process is fueled by calcium oxide, also known as quicklime. The drinks stay warm for about 30 minutes using this process.

Of course, safety is a concern with this product, and an earlier generation product was plagued by consumer complaints of overheating and bursting containers. The company redid the container and there apparently haven't been problems with them since the redesign.

I love the idea of a hot drink on the go without the need for a traditional heating source. The products are currently found in Wal-Marts across the country, and will be more heavily marketed in the fall. Sporting goods stores are carrying the drinks too, as they appeal to those doing activities outdoors without access to a kitchen. You have your choice of 4 latte flavors and 2 hot cocoa varieties. Yum!

Tracy L. Coenen, CPA, MBA, CFE performs fraud examinations and financial investigations for her company Sequence Inc. Forensic Accounting, and is the author of Essentials of Corporate Fraud.