March 19, 2010
At a Capitol Hill news conference yesterday, the beverage industry had the distinct honor of being part of a landmark announcement: a major agreement on national school nutrition standards had been reached between the food and beverage industry and public health and education groups. Oftentimes, these groups may be on opposite sides of an issue, but when it comes to the health and wellness of our nation’s schoolchildren, all are willing to work together for the greater good.
As U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, stood alongside Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Rep. Lynn Woolsey, D-Calif., and representatives from the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Beverage Association, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Dietetic Association, American Heart Association, The Coca-Cola Company, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Mars Inc., National PTA, Nestlé and PepsiCo, those in the room could feel the excitement over what has been decades of commitment to bringing school nutrition standards into the 21st century. In fact, during her remarks, Chairman Lincoln compared the build-up to this momentous occasion to someone trying to open a pickle jar. You keep turning and turning the lid – to no avail. Then, all of a sudden, someone else comes along and gives it a turn and voila – the lid comes off. This was a nod to the years of dedication and hard work by Sen. Harkin as former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry.
ABA President and CEO Susan Neely acknowledged the hard work of Sens. Blanche Lincoln, Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., and Tom Harkin, as well as Reps. George Miller, D-Calif., and Lynn Woolsey, for their bi-partisan leadership on school nutrition. Over the last few years, our industry has worked with these distinguished Members of Congress on child nutrition as it pertains to the vending of beverages in schools. So yesterday was a long time coming – and a notable achievement.
Our industry has long been a leader in school health and wellness. In fact, the beverage industry has spent the past several years implementing national School Beverage Guidelines that remove full-calorie soft drinks from schools across America and replace them with lower-calorie, smaller-portion beverages. This initiative has resulted in 88 percent fewer beverage calories available in schools. As ABA President and CEO Susan Neely stated in a press release issued yesterday, “We believe this standard, which is already implemented and working, provides a strong cornerstone for developing a new federal nutrition standard for all foods and beverages sold in schools.”
So we look forward to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s review of all foods and beverages in schools – and to further opportunities to work together to advance nutrition in schools across America. Our School Beverage Guidelines are proof of our commitment to this issue.
Category: Nutrition & Health, School Beverage Guidelines
Tags: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Beverage Association, American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, American Dietetic Association, American Heart Association, Center for Science in the Public Interest, Child Nutrition, Child Nutrition Reauthorization Act, Mars Inc., National PTA, Nestle, PepsiCo, Rep. George Miller, Rep. Lynn Woolsey, Sen. Blanche Lincoln, Sen. Saxby Chambliss, Sen. Tom Harkin, Susan Neely, The Coca-Cola Company, US. Department of Agriculture, USDA
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March 18, 2010
Today we embark on the road to the national championship for men’s college basketball, the 2010 NCAA Tournament—passionately referred to by fans as March Madness. It’s a time of year when alumni and undergraduates alike cheer for their alma maters, willing them to successfully push through the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 and land in the Final Four semi-finals—or ultimately, The Big Dance.
It's also a time of year that reminds us of the importance of physical activity and hydration. Physical activity is one of the keys to maintaining a healthy weight, and can help with relieving stress and strengthening endurance. And drinking water and other beverages will give you the hydration you need to keep moving! So, be sure to catch up with friends and family to watch the games this week—but don't forget to get out there and burn off the calories you are taking in.
And don't forget to connect with us on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube – let us know your picks for the Final Four!
Category: Hydration, Physical Activity
Tags: 2010 NCAA Tournament, Elite 8, Facebook, Final 4, March Madness, Physical Activity, Sweet 16, The Big Dance, twitter
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March 17, 2010
Over the last few years, American families have felt the impact of the economic downturn. This latest recession not only rocked the global economy, eliminated hundreds of thousands of jobs and contributed to failures in the financial industry, but it created everyday hardships for Americans in every corner of this country as they’ve struggled to meet mortgage payments, feed their families and even save for college educations. These struggles are not yet over, not for the average American nor for state legislators as they assess their budget deficits and look for ways to cut spending and increase revenues. Unfortunately, some legislators are mistakenly turning to taxes on foods and beverages, easy targets for cash-strapped lawmakers. But whom are they hurting most at a time when they need it least? That’s right, their constituents.
New Yorkers have made it clear on more than one occasion that they aren’t going to put up with a soda tax. They don’t want it—and they don’t believe that it’s a genuine attempt at addressing the issue of obesity, regardless of how some lawmakers try to frame the debate. As we wrote on Monday, taxes don’t make people healthier—diet and exercise do that. Focusing too narrowly on one item in the grocery cart as a means to solve such a complex problem is ineffective. And hiding behind the guise of promoting healthy living is a disingenuous effort at addressing the problem.
See similar sentiments reported in the Utica Observer-Dispatch earlier this week that highlight a local businessman in the area:
Bill Chanatry, owner of Chanatry’s Supermarkets Inc., said he thinks Paterson’s plan is just a “money grab” and not really about combating obesity. Chanatry also said he is worried that the soda tax is just the first step to taxes on other unhealthy items such as bacon and sausage.
“It’s an intrusion into our lives,” Chanatry said. “Today, it’s soda. What’s tomorrow?”
Like Chanatry, we wonder what’s next? Once government reaches in to the grocery cart, it’s a slippery slope.
Category: Beverage Taxes
Tags: Bill Chanatry, Chantry's Supermarkets Inc, Governor Paterson, New York, Soda Tax, Utica Obeserver-Dispatch
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March 16, 2010
Through the successful implementation of our School Beverage Guidelines, there are now 88 percent fewer beverage calories being shipped to schools across the country. And shipments of full-calorie soft drinks have declined by 95 percent. This is truly a monumental step toward helping address childhood obesity in America.
Here at Sip & Savor, we shared President Clinton’s praise of the guidelines at last week’s news conference. This week, we wanted to share how the guidelines are impacting individual schools by talking to a school leader. So we sat down with Frank Eastham, principal of Oakland Mills High School in Columbia, Md. “We have a very deep responsibility to our students and to our communities to help students make healthy choices. The Guidelines help us do that,” Principal Eastham said.
The School Beverage Guidelines remove full-calorie sodas from all schools and replace them with more lower-calorie, nutritious, smaller-portion beverage options. Or, as Eastham put it, “the Guidelines help our students make the better choice.”
We take our role in being part of the solution to childhood obesity very seriously, and the School Beverage Guidelines are proof of this. Our actions speak loudly, and we are making a difference.
Category: School Beverage Guidelines
Tags: Oakland Mills High School, President Bill Clinton, Principal Eastham, School Beverage Guidelines
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March 15, 2010
Philadelphians are showing a growing unrest with Mayor Michael Nutter’s proposal to tax certain sugar-sweetened beverages, further proving that a proposal to raise taxes on Philadelphians could not come at a worse time. Families are struggling through a troubled economy – one that has hit the City of Brotherly Love with an unemployment rate of more than 10 percent.
While we’ve heard the Mayor’s elaborate justification for the tax – his claim that it will help trim the waistlines of his constituents – we know that this just a sad play by government to fill gaps in the city’s budget by grabbing money from hardworking families. But don’t take our word for it, have a look at the editorial in yesterday’s Philadelphia Inquirer that shakes down this proposal for what it is.
Taxes don’t make people healthier – diet and exercise do that. There are real world examples of taxes like this. Spoiler alert; they do not work. Only two states currently have excise taxes on soft drinks and other beverages like the one being proposed in Philadelphia – West Virginia and Arkansas. And both of these states rank in the top ten highest obesity rates in the country.
If we want to turn the tide on obesity, we need to look at comprehensive approaches, not sound bite solutions. In fact, America’s leading beverage companies are doing their part to help combat obesity. Last week, we announced the final progress report of the School Beverage Guidelines. Our member companies reduced beverage calories shipped to schools by 88 percent. We’ve been praised for this effort, being called a standout leader in the food and beverage industry by President Bill Clinton and others (check the Worth a Watch section of our Web site). The guidelines were part of a broader effort to teach children about the importance of a balanced diet and exercise.
And our industry recently announced its Clear on Calories initiative in support of First Lady Michelle Obama’s campaign to stop childhood obesity. Our member companies have pledged to mark the full amount of calories per container (up to 20 ounces) right on the front label of the product, putting important nutrition information at the fingertips of consumers at the point of purchase which will help them make the decision that is right for them. This information also will be readily available at company-controlled vending and fountain machines.
These initiatives are well thought out and meaningful. And they will have a lasting impact. Which is more than a tax could ever do.
Category: Beverage Taxes, Clear on Calories, School Beverage Guidelines, Taxes
Tags: First Lady, Mayor Nutter, Michelle Obama, Philadelphia, Philadelphia Inquirer, President Clinton
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March 12, 2010
We recently read about a study by the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) which searched to determine the environmental impact of the bottled water industry in the United States. The results were not surprising to us, but thought they might be for some of our readers who are not as familiar with the recent strides that bottled water manufacturers (including many of our member companies) are taking to reduce and reuse packaging materials. The study, commissioned by the International Bottled Water Association, a trade association that represents the bottled water industry and a source of information about all types of bottled waters, concluded that bottled water makes a very small impression on the environment.
Meaningful actions like recycling, light-weighting packaging and just generally being environmentally conscious have propelled not just the bottled water industry, but also the larger non-alcoholic beverage industry, to become more green.
Our member companies are leading the way with 100 percent recyclable and reusable packaging. We’re working hard to reduce our environmental impact even further by making packaging of all our products even lighter and more reusable. While we may be a small part of the environmental challenge, we’re working to be a big part of the solution.
For more information on bottled water, please visit our Web site.
Category: Bottled Water, Recycling
Tags: Beverage Industry, Bottled Water, International Bottled Water Association, Life Cycle Inventory, Packaging, Recycle, United States
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March 11, 2010
High school students in Putnam County, Tenn., will soon enjoy more beverage options during the day. A ban on carbonated beverages left the school vending machines stocked exclusively with waters, juices and sports drinks. The school board decided to expand the vending offerings to include low- and no-calorie soft drinks.
Interestingly, this week the beverage industry also had an exciting announcement about school beverage options, reporting that 88 percent fewer beverage calories are available in schools! The Final Progress Report on the implementation of our School Beverage Guidelines also shows that we’ve removed full-calorie sodas from schools, and replaced them with a range of lower-calorie, nutritious, smaller-portion choices. We’re proud of our final results and we know our efforts will have a meaningful and lasting impact.
For more information on this and other beverage industry news, check in with us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Category: School Beverage Guidelines
Tags: Putnam County, School Beverage Guidelines, Tennessee
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March 10, 2010
On Monday, the American Beverage Association joined President Clinton and Dr. Clyde Yancy, president of the American Heart Association to announce the remarkable results of the School Beverage Guidelines implementation. The diligent efforts of America’s leading beverage companies to remove full-calorie soft drinks and replace them with lower-calorie, smaller-portion beverage choices has led to an 88 percent reduction in calories from beverages in schools across the country.
President Clinton called it “breathtaking progress.”
The president touted the collaboration between the beverage industry and non-profit organizations, as well as the innovative school beverage guidelines, as a model for effectively tackling societal concerns. Check out his comments in these video highlights from his news conference.
For more about the changes that have been made in America’s schools, please access the Alliance School Beverage Guidelines Final Progress Report, which shows a number of remarkable achievements. Here are some of the notable achievements:
- Calories available from beverages in schools have been cut dramatically. In fact, 88 percent fewer beverage calories were shipped to schools between 2004 and the end of 2009.
- Full-calorie soft drinks have been removed. Shipments of full-calorie soft drinks to schools have declined by 95 percent.
- We have successfully changed the beverage landscape in schools across the country. The guidelines provide for a range of lower-calorie, nutritious and smaller-portion beverage options.
- The School Beverage Guidelines are a national standard that is in place and working. In short, the beverage industry worked with its school partners to accomplish a change in school nutrition that Washington is still just talking about.
Our industry is the only industry that has voluntarily and successfully implemented a national standard in schools across the country. For more information and to view the final progress report online, please click here.
Category: School Beverage Guidelines
Tags: Alliance for a Healthier Generation, American Heart Association, School Beverage Guidelines, William J. Clinton Foundation
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March 9, 2010
Here inside the Beltway, we spent a great deal of the month of February digging out from snowstorm … after snowstorm … after snowstorm. So it’s no surprise that the last few days of pleasant, yet slightly unseasonal, weather have had Washingtonians out and about and, importantly, being active! After all, those mounds of dingy grey snow have started to show not-quite-green grass once again. Even some flowers are pushing their way out of the ground as we gear up for the annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
No matter the season, however, it is essential to be physically active – and just as essential to stay hydrated. Whether shoveling snow or playing flag football, those activities burn calories – which is important to the overall equation of maintaining a healthy weight. If done vigorously, these activities will make you sweat, and may even cause you to lose hydration and other key nutrients such as electrolytes. So no matter your activity, be sure to drink enough fluids.
If you want to learn more about hydration, you can check out the hydration section of our Web site.
Category: Hydration, Physical Activity
Tags: Calories, Cherry Blossom Festival, Electrolytes, Hydration, Snow, Spring
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March 8, 2010
In 2006, our industry stepped up to do something no other industry had done. We voluntarily agreed to make significant changes in what we sold in America’s schools as part of a broader effort to teach children about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle. We teamed with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a joint initiative of the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association, to develop national School Beverage Guidelines that remove full-calorie soft drinks from all schools and provide more lower-calorie, nutritious, smaller-portion beverage options. Our implementation period is now over … and we’re pleased to report that America’s leading beverage companies have successfully delivered.
In fact, President Clinton announced the results earlier today at a news conference. Thanks to the School Beverage Guidelines, there are now 88 percent fewer calories from beverages in our nation’s schools – 88 percent! Now that’s change we can believe in!
The Alliance School Beverage Guidelines Final Progress Report shows a number of remarkable achievements. Here are some of the highlights:
- Calories available from beverages in schools have been cut dramatically. In fact, 88 percent fewer beverage calories were shipped to schools between 2004, the last comprehensive data available prior to the agreement, and the end of 2009.
- Full-calorie soft drinks have been removed. Shipments of full-calorie soft drinks to schools have declined by 95 percent.
- We have successfully changed the beverage landscape in schools across the country. The guidelines provide for a range of lower-calorie, nutritious and smaller-portion beverage options.
- The School Beverage Guidelines are a national standard that is in place and working. In short, the beverage industry worked with its school partners to accomplish a change in school nutrition that Washington is still just talking about. And we support making them federal law, a point we have testified to on several occasions.
Our industry is the only industry that has voluntarily and successfully implemented a national standard in schools across the country. For more information and to view the final progress report online, please click here.
Category: School Beverage Guidelines
Tags: Alliance for a Healthier Generation, American Heart Association, Keybridge Research LLC, School Beverage Guidelines, William J. Clinton Foundation
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