Field Poll shows support for warning labels on sugary drinks; study confirms labels can be a deterrent A new statewide Field Poll finds increasing voter support in California for warning labels on sugary beverages, despite ramped-up counter efforts by the beverage industry. Nearly four out of five registered voters polled (78 percent) support requiring warning labels to be printed on sugary drinks, up from 74 percent two years ago. A national study published last week in the journal Pediatrics also suggests that warning labels on sugary beverages might indeed deter people from buying the products. Researchers said they found that the impact of putting a label on the drink was actually two-fold: The labels educated consumers about the unhealthy aspects of drinking sugary beverages and influenced their purchasing behavior as a result. According to the Field Poll, California voters support sugary drink warning labels primarily because they see labels as a tool to promote personal responsibility for one’s sugar consumption (29 percent) and because warning labels support consumers’ right to know which products are harmful (28 percent). Other voters cited their interest in helping parents choose healthier beverages for their children (21 percent) and combating diabetes and obesity (17 percent). Legislation to require a sugary drink warning label (SB 203) failed to pass the California Senate last week. It would have placed a simple warning on the front of all beverage containers with added sweeteners that have 75 or more calories per 12 ounces. The label, developed by a national panel of nutrition and public health experts, would have read: STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAFETY WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay. In 2014, the legislature considered a similar bill (SB 1000). That bill was sponsored by a coalition that included the California Medical Association (CMA), the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, the California Black Health Network and the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. Although this bill passed the state Senate, it was held up in the Assembly. The idea for the bill was part of a CMA contest for medical school students and residents. The contest, called "My CMA Idea," collected ideas for public health legislation from medical students and residents, allowing future physicians to help craft public policy to better the health of all Californians. The winning idea came from a first-year medical student from the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, Tom Gaither. January 25, 2016 General Obesity, Public Health, State Legislative Advocacy, Diabetes 0 0 Comment Read More »
Soda warning label bill clears committee A California Medical Association-sponsored bill that would place safety warning labels on sodas and other sugary beverages sold in California has cleared California’s Senate Health Committee on a 5-2 vote. The first-in-the-nation legislation (SB 1000) was introduced by State Senator Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and would ensure that all Californians are aware of the critical scientific information linking sugary drink consumption to exploding rates of diabetes and obesity. The bill would place a simple warning on the front of all beverage containers with added sweeteners that have 75 or more calories per 12 ounces. The label, developed by a national panel of nutrition and public health experts, would read: STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAFETY WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay. Supported by overwhelming research linking soda and sugary drink consumption to skyrocketing rates of diabetes, obesity and tooth decay, the bill now moves forward to the Senate Committee on Appropriations, before being referred for a full Senate floor vote. According to a recent field poll, 74 percent of California voters support warning labels on sugary drinks. Sugary drinks are also the single largest contributor of added calories in the American diet, responsible for 43 percent of the additional calories consumed over the last 30 years. Drinking just one soda a day increases an adult’s likelihood of being overweight by 27 percent and a child’s by 55 percent. Research has also shown that a soda or two a day increases the risk of diabetes by 26 percent. “I see more and more patients losing limbs or going blind every year, and many of them drink a soda a day, unaware of just how hazardous the habit is to their health,” said Ashby Wolfe, M.D., of the California Medical Association. “Diabetes rates have skyrocketed by over 600 percent over the past generation, and liquid sugar is uniquely responsible for this epidemic. Warning labels are a vital step toward preventing a lot of trouble down the road.” These health implications are felt most acutely by California’s communities of color, which are the largest consumers of sugary drinks. In addition to CMA, the legislation is co-sponsored by the California Black Health Network, California Center for Public Health Advocacy and the Latino Coalition for a Healthy California. Complete information on SB 1000, including fact sheets on the science linking sugary beverages to diabetes, obesity and cavities, is available at www.sodawarninglabel.org. April 16, 2014 General Pediatrics, Public Health, State Legislation, Obesity 0 0 Comment Read More »
