Two-thirds of children under 11 years old drink at least one sugary drink a day. Consuming these beverages is strongly linked with obesity and diabetes, but parents are still buying sugary drinks for their children. In many cases it's because they don't realize that "healthy" alternatives to sodas like sports drinks, fruit juices, and bottled tea have sugar added to them as well.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania has found that parents will make better food choices at the grocery store when sugary drinks come with appropriate warnings.
Please join me in asking California lawmakers to move ahead with a proposal to put warning labels on sugar-rich beverages.
To the California State Legislature:
We the undersigned first wish to thank you for proposing labels that warn parents about the sugar content of many beverages. We wish now to show our support for this legislation. Sugar is possibly the leading contributor to childhood obesity. And the refined sugar in sodas and other canned and bottled beverages is the worst kind. The calorie count of many beverages is very high at the same time that these beverages provide no nutrition whatsoever. A new study shows that warning labels on sodas will be effective. Parents who see the warnings are much less likely to buy that product and serve it to their children. Many children could be saved from a lifetime of weight management issues. Please move ahead with the proposal to put warning labels on sugar-rich beverages.
