Thu, 16 Feb 2012

Susan K. Neely, president and CEO of the American Beverage Association (ABA), has announced that Karen Hanretty has joined ABA as vice president for public affairs for the association.

Thu, 09 Feb 2012

"We applaud First Lady Michelle Obama for her commitment to ending childhood obesity in America with her ‘Let's Move!' initiative. Childhood obesity is a complex issue, and we know that everyone has a role to play in reducing it - including government, industry, schools, the public health community and parents. Two years ago today, we proudly stepped up to support the First Lady's comprehensive approach with our Clear on Calories initiative - and we're delivering on that commitment. By placing clear calorie labels on the front of every bottle, can and pack we produce, our industry is making it easier for parents and individuals to choose the beverage that's right for them and their families. This effort, along with our industry providing more choices and fewer calories, will have a meaningful and lasting impact."

Mon, 06 Feb 2012

"In early 2010, our industry announced it had successfully implemented national School Beverage Guidelines, reducing beverage calories shipped to schools by a dramatic 88 percent. In fact, when it comes to elementary schools, the guidelines removed full-calorie soft drinks and allow for only bottled water, low-fat milk and 100 percent juice in 8 ounce containers."

Wed, 01 Feb 2012

"To be clear, this study does not show that consuming diet soft drinks can cause adverse health effects. It simply shows a correlation which is easily explained by other factors in the study - most notably age. Importantly, medical experts, including the American Dietetic Association, recommend diet soft drinks as a weight management tool, particularly for people at risk for vascular events or stroke."

Wed, 01 Feb 2012

"The authors of this commentary attempt to address the critical global health issue of non-communicable diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. However, in doing so, their comparison of sugar to alcohol and tobacco is simply without scientific merit. Moreover, an isolated focus on a single ingredient such as sugar or fructose to address health issues noted by the World Health Organization to be caused by multiple factors, including tobacco use, harmful alcohol use, an unhealthy diet and lack of physical activity, is an oversimplification. There is no evidence that focusing solely on reducing sugar intake would have any meaningful public health impact. Importantly, we know that the body of scientific evidence does not support that sugar, in any of its various forms - including fructose, is a unique cause of chronic health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease or metabolic syndrome."

Fri, 13 Jan 2012

"This is a Danish study of just 47 already overweight people, which the authors themselves acknowledge limits ‘the power' of their analysis. In fact, the findings cannot prove cause and effect, nor can they be applied to the public at-large.

Let's be clear - there is nothing unique about soda, whether sweetened with sucrose or HFCS, when it comes to obesity or other obesity-related health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease or metabolic syndrome. All this study shows is the need for controlling weight gain by balancing the calories we take in from all foods and beverages with those we burn through physical activity. Those are the keys to a balanced, healthy and active lifestyle."

Tue, 10 Jan 2012

"Taxing sugar-sweetened beverages will not reduce obesity, nor will it have a truly meaningful impact on obesity-related health conditions such as diabetes or coronary disease. In fact, using assumptions based on ‘lacking or inconclusive' evidence, the authors estimate their proposed tax would result in an average weight loss of less than one pound per year - an insignificant amount for an obese person. Importantly, a wide range of factors contribute to these health conditions and singling out one set of products in such an overly simplistic manner only undermines efforts to combat them."

Thu, 15 Dec 2011

"With our Clear on Calories initiative, the beverage industry is already providing calorie information at the fingertips of consumers. We agree that consumers should be armed with information about the calories contained in the foods and beverages they choose. By placing new calorie labels on the front of every bottle, can and pack we produce, we're helping consumers - especially parents - choose the beverage that is best for them and their families. This is an effort that supports First Lady Michelle Obama's ‘Let's Move!' campaign."

Tue, 22 Nov 2011

In response to "Emergency Department Visits Involving Energy Drinks," a paper appearing in today's issue of The DAWN Report, the American Beverage Association issued the following statement:

Sun, 13 Nov 2011

In response to "Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Incident Cardiovascular Risk Factors: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis," an abstract released today and to be presented on Wednesday at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2011, the American Beverage Association issued the following statement: