sugary drinks

Health & Safety

Public health advocates push Olympics to drop Coca-Cola sponsorship

7:02am August 09, 2024

by Ronnie Cohen

The soft-drink giant is one of the Olympics' biggest sponsors. But advocates argue pushing sugary beverages promotes obesity and diabetes worldwide, and is inconsistent with the values of the games.

Five U.S. cities which imposed taxes on sugary drinks saw prices rise and sales fall by 33%, according to a new study.

Cities with soda taxes saw sales of sugary drinks fall as prices rose, study finds

10:32am January 06, 2024

by Maria Godoy

Soda taxes are meant to discourage people from drinking too much sugar, which is linked to a host of bad health outcomes. Cities that imposed the taxes saw a 33% decrease in the sale of sugary drinks.

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Michelle Obama promoted healthy eating habits when she was first lady. Now, as co-founder of PLEZi Nutrition she aims to give parents healthier food options for their kids.

Michelle Obama launches a food company aimed at healthier choices for kids

7:21pm May 03, 2023

by Allison Aubrey

Kids in the U .S. consume a lot of sugar - nearly 53 pounds a year on average. Obama's new food company PLEZi Nutrition, will lower the sugar content and improve nutrition in products aimed at kids.

Soda bottles displayed in a San Francisco market.A federal appeals court blocked a city law requiring advertisement warnings on the potential health impacts of sugary drinks.

Federal Appeals Court Blocks San Francisco Law On Ad Warnings For Sugary Drinks

7:24pm January 31, 2019

by Richard Gonzales

A voter-approved law requiring large warnings about the effects of soda and other sugar-sweetened drinks was challenged by the beverage industry.

The sweetened beverage industry has spent millions to combat soda taxes and support medical groups that avoid blaming sugary drinks for health problems.

Big Soda And The Ballot: Soda Industry Takes Cues From Tobacco To Combat Taxes

6:47pm November 05, 2018

by Liz Szabo

Voters in Oregon and Washington will decide Tuesday whether to strip cities of their ability to tax sugary drinks, thanks to ballot initiatives backed by Big Soda.

Food assistance recipients spend about 10 percent of their food budget on sugary drinks, while the rest of the population spends about 7 percent.

Food Stamps For Soda: Time To End Billion-Dollar Subsidy For Sugary Drinks?

4:25pm October 29, 2018

by Allison Aubrey

SNAP provides nutrition assistance for about 42 million Americans, but critics say now is the time to restructure the $70 billion annual program in a way that promotes healthier food choices.

Over three years, a campaign urged Howard County, Md., residents to pare back on sugary drinks — through ads, social media, health counseling and changes to what vending machines sold. And it worked.

Un-Sweetened: How A Maryland County Cut Soda Sales Without A Soda Tax

5:26pm March 13, 2017

by Allison Aubrey

Over three years, a campaign urged Howard County, Md., residents to pare back on sugary drinks — through ads, social media, health counseling and changes to what vending machines sold. And it worked.

Bottles of Fanta are displayed in a food truck's cooler in 2014 in San Francisco. The city is one of several in California that have a soda tax on the ballot this November.

Trick Or Treat? Critics Blast Big Soda's Efforts To Fend Off Taxes

5:38pm October 20, 2016

by Allison Aubrey

Several U.S. cities have sugary drink taxes on the ballot. As efforts to reduce soda consumption gain traction around the world, critics say the industry is using the tobacco playbook to fight back.

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Khadija Sabir of Lovie Lee's Stars of Tomorrow preschool in Philadelphia attends a soda tax rally with three of her children. The proposed tax promises to pay for universal pre-K, parks and recreation centers.

Philly Wants To Tax Soda To Raise Money For Schools

8:25am April 09, 2016

by Katie Colaneri

Philadelphia's mayor is proposing a divisive tax on soda and other sugary drinks. The revenue would help fund a plan for community preschools, as well as renovations to parks and libraries.

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A mock-up of a warning label for sodas and sugary drinks proposed in California by public health advocates in 2015.

Warning Labels Might Help Parents Buy Fewer Sugary Drinks, Study Finds

6:39pm January 14, 2016

by Eliza Barclay

A few cities and states have proposed a health warning label on sugary beverages to inform consumers of their risks. A study finds such a label might have a significant impact on parents' purchases.