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May 22, 2013

Myths about obesity “spinning out of control”

Amid the many confusing messages and myths about obesity and how to reverse the trend in America, the real obesity experts are starting to speak out.

Jeffrey Friedman, a Rockefeller University obesity researcher, said, “In my view, there is more misinformation pretending to be fact in this field [obesity] than in any other I can think of.”

Madelyn Fernstrom, founding director of the University of Pittsburgh Weight Management Center, says when it comes to public misperception on obesity, “We are spinning out of control.”

In April 2012, a symposium organized by the American Society for Nutrition held a debate that some describe as the “Sugar Showdown.” According to science and health writer David Despain:

“The scientific community lashed out against ‘sugar is toxic’ sensationalism…identifying it as a distraction from more meaningful areas of research and debate on the causes of obesity and disease.”

It’s clear that media headlines hyping sugar – specifically, soda – as a unique contributor to obesity do not reflect a consensus of opinion within the scientific community that specialize in obesity.

An article, “Many Fronts in Fighting Obesity,” posted on the New York Times blog Well would seem to summarize much of the frustration obesity experts have with the myths perpetrated by press releases posing as science:

“But a closer look at what and how Americans eat suggests that simply focusing on sugar will do little to quell the rising epidemic of obesity. This is a multifaceted problem with deep historical roots, and we are doing too little about many of its causes.”

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans consumed 448 more calories on average in 2010 than in 1970. But contrary to conventional wisdom on obesity:

“Sugar, it turns out, is a minor player in the rise. More than half of the added calories — 242 a day — have come from fats and oils, and another 167 calories from flour and cereal. Sugar accounts for only 35 of the added daily calories.”

Americans deserve the truth about nutrition and calories – not hype from finger-waggers who use misinformation about sugar to push a policy agenda that takes away choice from consumers.

You can read more about the myths of weight loss and obesity here. And for answers to your questions about soft drinks, visit Let’s Clear it Up for the facts.


Category: Calories, Science, Sugars

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May 21, 2013

Worth A Read: The Michael Bloomberg Nanny State In New York

Nearly one year ago, Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed banning the sale of soft drinks larger than 16 ounces in New York City.  Not only has that unpopular move since been overturned by the New York State Supreme Court, but it has quickly become a metaphor for the colossal government overreach that Americans have come to despise.  In case you missed it, we wanted to flag a thought-provoking op-ed that recently ran on Forbes.com that further explores the symbolism of the New York City soda ban.  Here’s an excerpt:

Since New York City Mayor Bloomberg announced the 20-ounce soda ban last fall, the controversy has garnered national attention. But, this is just the latest example of his attempt to expand the “nanny state” that has become New York City. Emboldened by his mayoral powers, Bloomberg has decided to methodically push his idea of good living by regulatory fiat—a grand social engineering project that presumes he knows what is best for each of us.  From banning smoking and large soft drinks to regulating sodium and trans fats, if he thinks it is bad for you, it simply has to go.

It would be different if he was simply offering thoughtful advice. But instead he desires to exercise government control over the decision-making rights of consumers because apparently we cannot be trusted to make our own lifestyle choices.  The good news is that—unlike many abroad who are still forced to live under authoritarian states and dictatorships—we  have a judicial system in the United States that generally attempts to hold the rights of individuals above the extremes of government power.

We agree with the author and New Yorkers – who strongly opposed the ban – that if we want to get serious about obesity, we need to stop looking to laws and regulations and instead focus on education.  What we eat and drink is our choice and does not require government control or oversight.  Where does it end?

You can read the op-ed in its entirety by clicking here, and we strongly suggest you do.  For more information, visit New Yorkers for Beverage Choices.


Category: Beverage Taxes, News & Media, Taxes

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May 20, 2013

Worth a Read: Chicago Editorial on SNAP Restrictions

As we wrote last week, the Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) – or food stamps – has been criticized lately by certain groups who claim that the government program is subsidizing the obesity epidemic. In a misguided way, these critics believe restricting what low-income families can buy with SNAP benefits will lead to healthier lifestyles.

The editorial team at the Chicago Tribune today published a piece that examines the complexity of categorizing hundreds of thousands of products year after year to determine which foods and beverages qualify, posing the hypothetical question: “Would that determination be made based on what’s in the item, or what’s not?”  The writers also argue that while poor health, obesity and related diseases are increasing healthcare costs for everyone, “low-income people aren’t the only ones driving up those costs.”

The editorial states:

“More to the point: Why should the government dictate the dietary choices of SNAP recipients when the rest of us are free to sling Little Debbies and Mountain Dew into our carts? What we’re hearing is that it’s wrong to buy Fritos on the taxpayers’ dime.

Moderation, people. A 2002 survey of food stamp purchases found that recipients were “no more likely to consume soft drinks than are higher-income individuals, and are less likely to consume sweets and salty snacks.” A 2005 USDA analysis found that “vegetables, fruits, grain products, meat and meat alternatives account for nearly three quarters of the money value of food used by food stamp households.”

So lighten up, already. We’re all for reducing obesity, reining in health care costs and prudent spending of taxpayer dollars. But we don’t think the government needs to micromanage the grocery shopping habits of its citizens.”

To read the full text of the editorial, click here.


Category: News & Media

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May 17, 2013

Keep Yourself Hydrated

It’s beginning to be that time of year when you find yourself taking a long walk outside for lunch, going for a bike ride after a busy work day, and spending your weekends outside enjoying the sunshine with family and friends. Here at Sip & Savor we know you live busy lives, which is why we want to remind you to stay hydrated.

Trying to manage the calories you take in? Our member companies make a variety of low- and no-calorie beverages. You can check out DeliveringChoices.org to see the myriad beverage options available in today’s marketplace.

Whatever your preference — be sure to hydrate with a refreshing beverage.


Category: Beverages, Delivering Choices, Physical Activity

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May 16, 2013

Calories Count™ Rollout in the Nation’s Capital!

Our regular readers will remember last October when America’s beverage companies stood with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel and San Antonio Mayor Julián Castro to announce our industry’s Calories Count™ Vending Program.  Today, together with District of Columbia Mayor Vincent Gray, we’re proud to announce the expansion of our vending program into municipal buildings in the Nation’s Capital. In a statement, Mayor Gray said:

“I’m glad that the District will be in the vanguard of municipal governments working with our nation’s beverage companies to ensure that our workers and visitors to our municipal facilities have the information they need to make the best choices for their lifestyles. This program is a great example of a public/private partnership that empowers consumers.”

Through Calories Count™, our member companies, working with their vending partners, are committed to increase availability of lower-calorie beverages in vending machines; display a ‘Calories Count™’ vending snipe with messages such as ‘Check, then Choose’ and ‘Try a Low-Calorie Beverage;’ and add calorie labels to the selection buttons on beverage vending machines to show calorie counts per beverage container.

Today’s announcement is just another example of how our industry is delivering.  We are empowering consumers to consider calories in all their beverage choices and, as such, promoting healthy, balanced and active lifestyles.

As president and CEO of the American Beverage Association, Susan K. Neely said; “America’s leading beverage companies are committed to being part of meaningful solutions to the public health challenge of obesity, and working with Mayor Gray to bring the Calories Count™ Vending Program to city employees is an important part of addressing that challenge.”

For additional information on how our industry delivers with its Calories Count™ Vending Program, read the full press release here or check in with us on Facebook and Twitter.


Category: Clear on Calories, Delivering Choices, Innovation, News & Media

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May 15, 2013

Worth a Read: “Increase in cost does not mean decrease in obesity”

We recently came across this op-ed in the University of California’s Highlander that made some good points regarding SB 622, a bill pending before the California Legislature that would levy a tax on soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages.  The op-Ed reads as follows:

“A person’s well-being is essential and staying fit is beneficial. However, the tax on sugary drinks is the wrong step to take. The tax, which would include soda as well as sweetened teas, seems like more of a hassle than an actual solution to the ‘obesity epidemic.’ Charging people extra for drinks that will be consumed anyway is hardly an answer to a supposed fattening nation.”

You can check out the full op-ed here.  Let us know what you think.

And, don’t forget to check out DeliveringChoices.org to learn more about what our industry is doing to be part of meaningful solutions to obesity.


Category: Delivering Choices, News & Media, Taxes

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May 14, 2013

How Often Do You Exercise?

How many times a week are you able to make time in your busy schedule to exercise? If you are able to squeeze a work-out in three times a week, then you are actually doing pretty well, according to a new Gallup survey.

The survey of 139,000 U.S. workers found that people who exercise less than three days a week are more likely to be obese. The survey also found that other behavioral and emotional factors, including healthy eating and feeling well-rested, did not have as much of a connection to being overweight or obese.

We at Sip & Savor often blog about the importance of physical activity, and stress that balancing calories consumed from all sources with those burned through exercise is an essential component to maintaining a healthy weight.

So, get up and get active!  And try to make time in your daily routine to add in some exercise – and don’t forget to stay hydrated while you do!


Category: Physical Activity

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May 13, 2013

Worth A Read: Why SNAP Restrictions Don’t Work

“Heavy-handed,” “unduly intrusive” and “reeks of overreach.”  The Washington Times must have read our minds this morning when they took on the issue of SNAP benefit restrictions.

Recently the government program – better known as food stamps – has come under fire from “healthy-eating zealots” and the “obesity-obsessed” as yet another misguided way to address the complex problem of obesity and force low-income Americans into leading healthier lifestyles.  There are many reasons why these types of efforts, despite their best intentions, simply will not work.  For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), our government’s very own regulator of food safety and inspection, called these proposals arbitrary and said that they would be overly difficult to enforce.  From the Times:

According to the USDA, there are more than 300,000 food products available on the market, and each year about 12,000 new products find their way on to supermarket shelves. The department observes that “the task of identifying, evaluating, and tracking the nutritional profile of every food available for purchase would be substantial.” Government officials would squabble with manufacturers over whether their food items meet USDA standards. Marketplace winners and losers would be decided by a political process instead of by sovereign consumers.

Education is at the core of changing behavior, not passing laws and regulations limiting choice.  The bottom line is: it’s not the government’s job to grocery shop for our families; it’s ours.  Politicians should do what we elected them to do.  We don’t tell them how to build roads and bridges using our tax dollars, and they don’t need to tell us what to put in our shopping carts.


Category: Food Policy, Government, Nutrition & Health

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May 9, 2013

“Really?”

The New York Times “Really?” column, part of the “Well” blog, tackles popular health myths on a weekly basis. This week, it covered a myth that we often write about here at Sip & Savor: the false belief promulgated by our critics that sugar-sweetened beverages are the largest contributor of sugar in the diet. New York Times blogger Anahad O’Connor examines data from the CDC and concludes: “The bottom line… Most of the added sugar the average American consumes in a typical day comes from food, not drinks.”

If you are a frequent reader, you know this is not new to us. We’ve been telling our story about the changes to the beverage landscape that our member companies have been driving for years.  Our commitment to providing choices for consumers by offering a wide array of beverages in a range of portion sizes and calorie options can be seen in grocery stores nationwide. We provide calorie information right on the front of every can, pack and bottle we produce so consumers know exactly how many calories are in their favorite beverage before they purchase. And, through innovation we’re creating more low- and no-calorie, great-tasting options – in part, driving a 23 percent decline in the average calories per beverage serving since 1998. In fact, 45 percent of all non-alcoholic beverages purchased today have zero calories.

So, the next time you hear something about our industry or its beverages that leaves you scratching your head, ask yourself – “Really?” and get the facts at LetsClearItUp.org, send us a Tweet, or find us on Facebook.


Category: Delivering Choices, Innovation, Sugars

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