In response to an announcement today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) of the agency’s interim final rule on competitive foods and beverages sold in schools, the American Beverage Association (ABA) issued the following statement:

Statement:

“We commend the USDA for its thorough work in developing the first-ever national standards for all foods and beverages in schools which largely follow the guidelines implemented voluntarily by our industry beginning in 2006. As a result of the industry’s voluntary efforts, we have reduced beverage calories shipped to schools by 90 percent.”

 # # #

Additional Background:

Research published last year in the American Journal of Public Health confirmed that ABA member companies are no longer offering full-calorie soft drinks to schools nationwide and beverage calories shipped to schools were reduced by 90 percent between 2004 and the end of the 2009-2010 school year. Beginning in 2006, the beverage industry voluntarily implemented School Beverage Guidelines that were developed with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation (founded in 2005 by the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation).  The guidelines removed full-calorie soft drinks and replaced them with more low-calorie, portion-controlled beverages.

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.  www.DeliveringChoices.org

 

 -30-