In 1966, the United States was the first nation to require a health warning on cigarette packages. In 1989, similar warnings were mandated for alcohol. Now, we might see warning labels appear on sugary drinks.
A California state senator recently introduced a bill that would require a warning label on soda or fruit drinks containing added sweeteners that make up 75 or more calories per 12 ounces.
The bill’s hypothetical warning label would read:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAFETY WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay.
If passed, the law would go into effect on July 1, 2015.
Several scientific studies have shown that consumption of sugar sweetened beverages contributes to a variety of health problems. Some of the key findings include:
- Every serving of sugary drinks a child consumes increases his or her chance of becoming overweight or obese by nearly 60%. Thus, a panel of nutrition experts has recommended that children up to age 13 consume no sugar sweetened beverages whatsoever.
- Yet, sugar-sweetened-beverages provide the #1 source of calories for youth age 2-18.
- In Ohio, about 40% of 3rd graders are consuming 2 or more sugary drinks per day.
- For adults, consuming 1 or more sugary drinks each day increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 25%.
- Additionally, soft drinks are the food most strongly linked to increased rates of obesity and risk for diabetes.
Supporters of the bill believe that the labels will provide residents with essential information needed to make healthy choices, just as has been done with alcohol and tobacco. Those in opposition of the bill, such as members of the beverage industry, feel that sugary drinks should not be singled out, since other foods can also contribute to obesity and other diseases.
Research proving the effectiveness of this type of warning label on alcohol and tobacco products has been mixed. This is primarily due to the fact that it is hard to pinpoint the exact cause of behavior change when several public health campaigns are put into place in a single area.
What do you think? Should sugary drinks carry a health warning? Will the warnings be effective? While this particular bill would only impact the state of California, the concept could easily be duplicated in other states. Would a warning label such as this help deter over-consumption of sugary drinks in the state of Ohio?
For more information on Ohio initiatives to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks, check out the Water First for Thirst movement developed by Columbus Public Health.
Written by:
Bridgette Kidd, MPH, RD
Healthy People Program Specialist, Family and Consumer Sciences
Ohio State University Extension
kidd.149@osu.edu
Reviewed by:
Carol Smathers, MS, MPH
Field Specialist, Youth Nutrition and Wellness
Ohio State University Extension
Sources:
Castillo, M. California law proposal would put health warning labels on soda. CBS News. 2014 Feb 14. Available at: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-proposes-law-health-warning-labels-on-soda-sugary-drinks/
Ohio Department of Health, A Report on the Body Mass Index of Ohio’s Third Graders 2004–2010.
Recommendations for healthier beverages. Healthy Eating Research, Robert Would Johnson Foundation. 2013 March.
Vartanian LR, Schwartz MB, Brownell KD. Effects of soft drink consumption on nutrition and health: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Public Health. 2007 Apr;97(4):667-75. Epub 2007 Feb 28.
