The California State Senate passed SB 1000 (Monning) – government warning labels on more than 500 sweetened beverages sold in California. Following is a statement from the California-Nevada Beverage Association (CalBev):
Statement:
“Putting government warning labels on more than 500 beverages will do nothing to change personal behaviors or teach people about healthy lifestyles. The last thing California needs is more warning labels. Senate Bill 1000 will only feed the confusion surrounding hundreds of beverages without changing personal habits.”
Background:
The FDA Has Plans To Change Nutrition Labels
President Obama and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) recently introduced the first new update to nutrition labels in twenty years. It doesn’t make sense for California to waste time and taxpayer money singling out sugar-sweetened beverage containers when there’s a new national effort already underway.
There Are Confusing Exemptions
SB 1000 is written so that milk-based products like frappuccinos and mochas are exempt from warning labels – even though some of those products contain just as much sugar as soda. It’s confusing and just doesn’t make sense.
Obesity Is More Complicated Than A Warning Label
Obesity and related diseases, like diabetes, have multiple risk factors, including genetics, age, stress and even lack of sleep (source: MayoClinic.com) A warning label on certain beverages will do nothing to change behaviors or teach people about healthy lifestyles.