I watched an interview last night on the News Hour with Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo. In an attempt to improve the health of Americans, the largest soft drink manufacturers worldwide have announced they will decrease the calorie content of their sugary drinks during the next 10 years by 20%. Part of their strategy will include selling smaller pack sizes and product reformulation to provide lower calorie options. You can read the interview transcript here.
Well, I guess it’s a start. Ms. Nooyi made a valid point that obesity is a complex issue and sodas are not the only culprit. She thought the government should focus more on improving school lunches and bringing back mandatory physical education, instead of taxing beverages or controlling their size. Maybe.
NHANES reports that sugar-sweetened beverages are one of the top five sources of calories for all age groups, two years old and up. And these nutrient-empty beverages are the number one source of calories for teens.
This NYC ad remains one of my favorite.