Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Watchdog group wants FDA to put health warnings on sodas
"Sodas should follow alcohol and cigarettes and bear a federally mandated warning label detailing the dangers of consuming too many, a food watchdog group said Wednesday in filing a petition with the Food and Drug Administration. The Center for Science in the Public Interest, which has fought for clear nutrition labeling on foods and published information about the poor nutritional content of fast food, says Americans, especially young ones, are getting too much refined sugar from soft drinks." (reference)
Drinking water and diet sodas are considerably better for your health. While the CSPI brings up a valid point about the health effects of soda, is it truly necessary to put warning labels on them? Couldn't we put the same labels on candy bars?
Drinking water and diet sodas are considerably better for your health. While the CSPI brings up a valid point about the health effects of soda, is it truly necessary to put warning labels on them? Couldn't we put the same labels on candy bars?
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The ABA makes a similar slippery slope argument in their response to the CSPI, but the reasoning if flawed. Candy bars, unlike soft drinks, are marketed as desserts or indulgences (with the exception maybe of Snickers and, of course, meal replacement and energy bars, but I won't get into that). Consumers are generally aware, when they eat a block of chocolate and caramel, that they're not making a healthy choice.
Soft drinks, on the other hand, are marketed (heavily) as a reasonable beverage to drink on a regular basis, not that different from juice or milk. Warning labels will simply get people to stop and think and maybe read the nutritional-facts before they drink. They'll realize that the soda is an indulgence, too.
That said, nothing may change. People do, after all, knowingly indulge in all kinds of junk food, but at least they'll be better educated.
D. Whittall www.womanofsize.com
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Soft drinks, on the other hand, are marketed (heavily) as a reasonable beverage to drink on a regular basis, not that different from juice or milk. Warning labels will simply get people to stop and think and maybe read the nutritional-facts before they drink. They'll realize that the soda is an indulgence, too.
That said, nothing may change. People do, after all, knowingly indulge in all kinds of junk food, but at least they'll be better educated.
D. Whittall www.womanofsize.com
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