California lawmakers have proposed to put warning labels on sugary drinks for diabetes, obesity, and tooth decay. This is to increase public awareness on the negative effects of too much sugar intake.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 17 percent of kids between the ages of two to 19 are obese. A lot of studies have concluded that one of the greatest factors in obesity in kids is the uncontrolled intake of sweets, which in turn can also lead to diabetes and tooth decay.
Though several efforts are made throughout the United States to combat obesity, like increasing taxes of sugary beverages and banning sodas and junk foods in public school since 2005 in California, they were still unsuccessful.
In the latest act to fight off obesity, lawmakers in California proposed a bill that aims to require sugary drinks such as sodas and sweetened juices to carry warning labels about things it can cause. The bill was introduced in Sacramento and is backed up by a number of public health advocacy groups.
However, predictably, the U.S. food and beverage industry went against it.
"It is misleading to suggest that soft drink consumption is uniquely responsible for weight gain. In fact, only 4.0 per cent of calories in the average American diet are derived directly from soda," CalBev, the California arm of the American Beverage Association, said to CBC News.
According to experts, foods we eat account for majority of the calories we consume. However, unlike calories from sugary drinks, calories from foods are often bound to vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, carbohydrates and other things.
California Senator Bill Monning said that the labeling proposed is pretty much like what is on cigarette and tobacco packs, and alcohol products. The text in the warning will focus on the health risks imposed by drinking such sugary drink would simply inform consumers that they should have to make healthy choices.
"When the science is this conclusive, the state of California has a responsibility to take steps to protect consumers," Monning told Reuters.
"I think there will still be opposition from industry, but we'll probably have stronger support in the legislature," he added.
