News Releases & Statements

Beverage Industry Responds to Study on Calorie Information

In response to "Reduction in Purchases of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Among Low-Income Black Adolescents After Exposure to Caloric Information," a study published online ahead of print in the American Journal of Public Health, the American Beverage Association issued the following statement:

Statement:

"With our Clear on Calories initiative, the beverage industry is already providing calorie information at the fingertips of consumers. We agree that consumers should be armed with information about the calories contained in the foods and beverages they choose. By placing new calorie labels on the front of every bottle, can and pack we produce, we're helping consumers - especially parents - choose the beverage that is best for them and their families. This is an effort that supports First Lady Michelle Obama's ‘Let's Move!' campaign."

Additional Background Information:

On Clear on Calories:

• Clear on Calories was announced in support of First Lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" campaign, which addresses childhood obesity by focusing on diet, physical activity and education.

• Our voluntary commitment to make calories more visible and useful to consumers supports her efforts to help families make informed choices as part of an active, healthy lifestyle.

• Clear on Calories is one of the ways in which we've stepped up to be part of the solution to helping reduce childhood obesity.

On Childhood Obesity:

• We know that childhood obesity is a complex health problem, for all populations, including minorities.

• If we truly want to reduce childhood obesity, we need to take a comprehensive approach that includes all stakeholders and addresses both diet and physical activity, not one that focuses on one food, beverage or ingredient.

On Beverages in Schools:

• Our commitment to being part of the solution to childhood obesity is longstanding.

• We recognize that schools are unique places where parents want greater control over what their children eat and drink when they're not around. That's why we successfully implemented national School Beverage Guidelines.

• The guidelines removed full-calorie soft drinks from all schools and replaced them with more lower-calorie, smaller-portion options. Under the voluntary Guidelines, only juice, low-fat milk and water are allowed in elementary and middle schools, with the addition of lower-calorie and portion-controlled beverages in high schools.

• Through the guidelines, the signatory companies drove an 88 percent reduction in beverage calories shipped to schools since 2004.

• Industry announced the successful implementation of the guidelines at a press conference with former President Clinton on March 8, 2010. President Clinton stated, "I applaud the beverage industry for working with us, and for the good faith and aggressiveness they've shown in implementing these guidelines across the country."

On Providing Choice:

• The beverage industry cut the total amount of beverage calories produced for the marketplace by 21 percent from 1998 to 2008, due in part to industry's innovation in providing more zero- and low-calorie and smaller-portion beverage choices.

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The American Beverage Association is the trade association representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States. For more information on ABA, please visit the association's Web site at www.ameribev.org or call the ABA communications team at (202) 463-6770.

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