Bonnie comments on soft drink bottlers mea culpa

Last week, the top three soft-drink companies announced that beginning this fall, they would start removing sweetened drinks like Coke, Pepsi, and Iced Teas from school cafeterias and vending machines in response to the growing threat of lawsuits and state legislation. Under an agreement between the beverage makers and health advocates, students in elementary school would be served only bottled water, low-fat and nonfat milk, and 100 percent fruit juice in servings no bigger than eight ounces. Serving sizes would increase to 10 ounces in middle school. In high school, low-calorie juice drinks, sprots drinks and diet sodas would be permitted; serving sizes would be limited to 12 ounces. Dr. Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, applauded the agreement, but said, "I'd like to get rid of the Gatorades and diet soft drinks completely."

Courtesy NY Times

Bonnie - I concur with Dr. Jacobson. You've got to keep diet soft drinks and sports drinks out of high schools as well. A recent long-term study of Coke vs. Diet Coke showed more obesity with those drinking Diet Coke.

With regard to the other age groups, even the American Pediatric Association recommends limiting fruit juice, so I do not think having 100 percent juice is a great idea either. Filtered waters (sparkling and plain) and electrolyte waters (such as Glaceau Smart Water) would be my choice.

The problem is that you still have big soft drink makers controlling 90% of school sales. They do not care if they are selling their waters, juices, or diet instead of regular soft drinks; but it is virtually impossible to remove their products entirely. This is why parent involvement is crucial.

I just thought I would throw out my Vending Machine Wish List:

• Glaceau Smart Water (unsweetened electrolyte water)
• Naturally occurring spring water (not from tap); brands such as Trinity, Fiji, Volvic
  
• Naturally occurring sparkling water (not from carbonation; flavored but not sweetened); brands such as Blu, Perrier, Whole Foods 365, and Gerolsteiner
  
• V-8 Juice (original) in 6 oz. cans
• V-8/Fruit Juice blends in bottles
• Tea (plain/flavored; unsweetened); brands such as Republic of Tea, ItoEn, Honest, Lipton (unsweetened only)
  
• Calcium-fortified Orange Juice

Do I think this will ever happen? Probably not in my lifetime...but at least you can stock this in your home as a "personal vending machine."