Food and Health: Sugar Loaded Drinks

Introduction

The author, Ponice Rustch, reintroduces herself, as well as her stance, on Sugar Loaded drinks with these statements, “We’ve said it before, and we'll say it again: We consume a lot more sugar than is good for our health. Because of this, the next generation of Americans will struggle with obesity and diabetes more than any other. The most obvious culprit is the added sugar in sodas and other sugary beverages, like sports drinks or teas.”

Public Health Concerns

Rustch firmly believes that Americans consume more sugar in our beverages than is good for our health. An idea that public health advocates proposed to lower sugar consumption was to tax beverages that held a certain amount of added sugar. Another motion of theirs was to shrink the size of soda cups. The latest idea from legislators in New York and California is a warning label. They're creating labels for sugar-loaded beverages such as sodas and energy drinks that are similar to labels you would see on cigarette packs or bottles of alcohol. It’s contributors believe that drinks containing added sugar and 75 or more calories in a 12-ounce serving should have the label.

The Legislative Approach

When discussing the label bill with the Salt, Bill Monning, California senate leader, mentions, “We’re just saying if we care about these health problems it’s also good for the consumer to know” (Rustch, 2023, p. 5). He also adds, “It might mitigate how often [consumers] would buy these products.” What Bill Monning is saying here about the label is that he is trying to make consumers aware of what they are consuming and putting into their bodies.

Proposed Warning Labels

The article also contains an image of what the label would look like, including the following information on the contents of the beverage: “State of California safety warning: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay.” This label is Monning’s second attempt at the California state legislature after getting stymied the past year. Around the same time as Bill Monning, a New York state legislature named Jeffrey Dinowitz tried to pass a similar bill through the state assembly. “Dinowitz is more hopeful about the label bill because it seems more feasible” (Rustch, 2023, p. 10). Dinowitz notes, “We’re not banning anything, we’re not telling anyone you can’t have cups, it’s a simple warning” (Rustch, 2023, p. 11).

Health Advocacy and Public Awareness

Harold Goldstein, the executive director of the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, an organization focused on fighting obesity, sponsored the bill. Goldstein says, “The body absorbs the liquid sugar in soda and other drinks much faster than the sugars in other foods, releasing blood sugar levels in as little as 30 minutes. It’s a lot easier to drink the teaspoons of sugar in a soda than it is to eat them. And the sugar doesn’t make you feel full, the way that fat or protein might. More and more I am thinking of these products as diabetes in a bottle” (Rustch, 2023, p. 15). With these labels, sugarized drinks draw close comparisons to products such as cigarettes.

Comparisons to Tobacco Campaigns

Goldstein’s goal is to share the anti-tobacco campaign’s fortune outcome, as the number of smokers in the US has steadily declined since the first appearance of the label in 1965. Like the anti-tobacco campaign, the anti-soda campaign has its own opposition in the beverage industry. As Rustch puts it, “The American Beverage Association has already spent a lot to keep soda tax bills from gaining state approval” (Rustch, 2023, p. 17).

Industry Opposition and Political Support

William Dermody, the Vice President of the American Beverage Association, calls the warning label, “Misleading” and that it “Singles out one industry for complex health challenges will not change behaviors or educate people about healthy lifestyles” (Rustch, 2023, p. 18). Despite this, the bill gains support from both Democrats and Republicans. Goldstein adds, “It’s really a libertarian solution: Give consumers the information and let them make the choice” (Rustch, 2023, p. 20). This approach emphasizes consumer education and autonomy, encouraging individuals to make informed decisions about their health.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the debate over sugar-loaded beverages and their impact on public health continues to gain attention. The proposed warning labels represent a significant step towards increasing consumer awareness and potentially reducing the consumption of sugary drinks. As the conversation around health and nutrition evolves, it remains crucial to consider both public health initiatives and industry perspectives to find a balanced solution that benefits society as a whole.