The Center for Science in the Public Interest urges the FDA to limit the amount of sweeteners beverage makers can put in their soft drinks.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest believes that since Americans consume huge amounts of soda daily and the high level of fructose corn syrup and other sweetener content in soft drinks leads to obesity. Hence, the consumer group has urged the U.S. Food and Drink Administration to limit the amount of sweeteners beverage makers can put in their soft drinks.
"In the past 10 years or so, researchers have done a variety of experiments and studies that connect soft drinks to obesity" and other health problems, said Michael F. Jacobson, executive director of the consumer group. "The science is now very strong."
Jacobson said the level of fructose corn syrup in some sodas is so high that they are unsafe to consume. Hence, his group has asked the FDA to look into that matter. A spokeswoman of the FDA confirmed receiving the petition but didn't provide a time frame as to when they would reply to the petitioners.
This petition comes as a follow up to previous actions taken by health advocates to reduce the consumption of these sugary drinks. New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg hopes to ban the large sale of soft drinks in his city. Jacobson was happy to note that things were working in the right directions. Many beverage makers were offering its consumers more healthy drinks, which in turn reduce their consumption of sodas.
This is not the first time the Center for Science in the Public Interest has filed such a petition. Earlier, it had filed petitions urging the FDA to regulate the use of salt and hydrogenated vegetable oils.
The petition was supported by health advocaters from cities including Los Angeles and Boston.
