In Boston, MA, where over 20% of the families are Latino, approximately 54% of adults and 40% of public school students are overweight or obese, according to the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC). Sugary sodas and juices are major sources of excess sugar that lead to obesity and related diseases, so the BPHC is tackling sugar drinks in the re-launch of a city-wide campaign. The Sugar Smarts campaign aims to increase awareness of the negative health effects of sugary beverages and provide options for healthier choices. On the Sugar Smarts website, you'll find information about sugary drink-related illness, facts about sugary drink consumption, and tips on how to make better beverage choices. The site also houses resources in English and Spanish about sugary drinks and ...
In Summer of 2012, the New York City Health Department approved a ban on the sale of soda and other sugary drinks in quantities larger than 16 ounces in restaurants, movie theaters and street carts. The first of its kind in the country, the measure would not apply to diet sodas, fruit juices, dairy-based drinks like milkshakes, or alcoholic beverages; it would not extend to beverages sold in grocery stores or convenience stores. The ban is one of the many attempts of Mayor Bloomberg to combat the rise of obesity in America.
Naturally, the ban is quite controversial; the beverage industry sued the Health Department to keep the ban from going into affect in March 2013. A handful of Latino groups were against the ban, stating that the ban would hurt Latino-owned businesses and do ...
Studies show that Latino kids tend to drink more sugary drinks than their peers, putting them at a higher risk for weight-related issues like diabetes. One California lawmaker wants to insure that people are aware of the health risks of consuming too much added sugar. State Senator Bill Monning, responsible for attempting to pass a sugary drink tax a few times in the past, introduced a bill that would require a warning label on any drink with added sweeteners that has 75 or more calories in every 12 ounces. Monning said his labeling bill is akin to health warnings already carried on tobacco and alcohol products and focuses on health risks that a broad body of science has clearly linked to sugary drinks. Updates:
The bill cleared its first legislative test on April 9th, ...
As families become more and more aware of the harms of consuming too much sugar, the sugary drink industry has been brainstorming ways to respond. Last year, Coca-Cola tested a new "mid-calorie" beverage they call "Coca-Cola Life" in Chile and Argentina. Coke Life has around 89 calories compared to the 140 in a regular Coke, and is sweetened with sugar and stevia. Coke plans to launch Coke Life in the U.K. this Fall. If the drink makes it to the United States, will Latino kids, who drink one more sugary drink a day than their White peers, switch to the lower-calorie option? Is this part of a solution to sugar over-consumption or just a ploy by a beverage company to retain customers in a declining market? Advertisements for the new beverage appeal to consumers' emotions ...
NPR's online blog The Salt discusses the highlights of a new study published online in June in the journal Nutrition about the nutritionally difference of fruit juice versus soda. Eliza Barclay writes for The Salt and wrote the recent commentary on the study "Fruit Juice Vs. Soda? Both Beverages Pack In Sugar, Health Risks." When it comes to choosing between sodas and juices in the beverage aisle, the juice industry has long benefited from a health halo. We know that juice comes from fruit, while soda is artificial. In particular, the sugars in juice seem more "natural" than high fructose corn syrup — the main sweetener in so many sodas. After all, we've gotten rid of most of the soda we used to offer kids at school, but we still serve them lots of juice. But a published online ...
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg may be out of office, but his campaign fighting sugar-loaded beverages is still going strong. The newly-elected NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio is continuing to run the attention-grabbing "Pouring on the Pounds" campaign ads (which run in English and in Spanish) on TV, in subway cars, and elsewhere. "Regardless of an administration change, the leading causes of death remain the same. … Focus groups have shown these types of graphic ads are effective, which is why we continue to use them,” a Health Department spokesman said. Sugary drinks continue to be the largest single contributor to obesity, the official said. De Blasio earlier this month said he would continue Bloomberg’s fight to ban the sale of sugary drinks larger than 16 ...
The Berkeley City Council agreed to put a sugary drink tax on a community poll assessing possible ballot measures for the November 2014 election. The poll will also test opinions on a commercial vacancies tax, a business license tax on rental housing, and a bond and tax measure for parks. The proposed tax is a penny-per-ounce tax on drinks with added caloric sugar which would include sodas, iced teas, Italian sodas, sports and energy drinks, sweetened coffees, and sweetened ice teas. The tax would not apply to milk, milk products, alcohol or drinks that are taken for medical reasons. Many community organizations support the measure, including Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. After the community poll of 500 likely voters showed that the sugary drink tax would have ...
Maryland has one of the most diverse Latino populations in the country, many of which are children. Tens of thousands of Maryland children who attend licensed child care centers will enjoy healthier drink choices and activities starting next year, thanks to a bill passed by the Maryland General Assembly and signed by Governor Martin O’Malley in May 2014. The “Child Care Centers – Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Act” requires centers to provide healthier drinks to children in their care, better support mothers who are breastfeeding, and reduce non-educational screen time. Many of these standards are based on the successful “Healthy Child Care” program in Howard County. In addition to Sugar Free Kids Maryland, the legislation had the support of both the Maryland ...
Studies have found that Latino kids drink more sugary drinks a day than their White peers, putting them at a higher risk for diet-related diseases, like obesity.The City of Livingston, CA has a Latino population of over 70%, and health activists in the city were looking for a way to reduce sugary drink consumption and promote healthier drinks. In April 2014, the city officially adopted a healthy beverages policy. The healthy beverages policy was introduced to the city by the California Health Collaborative, a program that focuses on promoting wellness through community education The Police Department, Department of Public Works and City Hall employees have begun participating in the program. Healthy beverages choices that are now served at meetings and events include ...
