A campaign against soft drinks recently launched by the Los Angeles County Public Health Department - which is being funded with federal stimulus dollars - is the latest example of the blatant misuse of this taxpayer money that was originally intended to create or save jobs.  With unemployment in the double-digits, why isn’t Los Angeles County using this money to put people back to work?

Funding scare campaigns that target one industry does not create jobs. In fact, it could actually cost people jobs and impede economic growth.  This is a remarkable statement of misplaced priorities. At a time when budget deficits are at all time highs – and families are still struggling financially – Los Angeles County is wasting taxpayer money on advertising.

It is false and misleading for this campaign to suggest that products, which account for just 7 percent of the calories in the average American’s diet, are driving obesity and diabetes. If we continue to focus on only one food, beverage or ingredient, we’ll never see meaningful results in reducing obesity in our country.

Our industry is very upfront about our products and the fact that some contain calories.   But there is nothing unique about those calories when it comes to weight gain and obesity.  It’s a simple equation – if you consume more calories (from any food or beverage) than you burn through physical activity, you’ll gain weight.

These grants could have been used to create jobs and improve public health. In fact, these federal funds could have gone to local communities to stimulate job growth and promote healthy lifestyles simultaneously by maintaining the operation of public parks, bike trails, pools, physical education programs, and after-school programs.  Efforts such as these would not only achieve an admirable public health goal, but also accomplish the original intent of the stimulus package: to add jobs to a lagging economy.

It’s time to get your priorities in order, Los Angeles.