New York City Passes Soda Ban

New York City Passes Soda Ban

Thu 13 Sep 2012

Story by The Food Revolution Team
 

In a historic move New York City just announced its passed a proposal to ban the sale of sugary drinks over 16 ounces.

Back in June, the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, put forward a proposal which would put a ban on the sale of sweetened drinks, including soda, sports drinks, ‘energy’ drinks, sweetened teas and coffees and sweetened fruit drinks, over 16 ounces and which contain more than 25 calories per 8 ounces. Today the New York Board of Health passed that proposal.

Despite the outcry that this ‘soda ban’ caused, with a recent poll of the city showing that the majority of voters opposed this idea, the Board of Health’s decision - 8 voted for, 0 against, 1 abstention - means that effective from March 2013, the sale of such drinks should no longer be permitted in eateries, movie theatres and street carts across the city.

More than 50% of adults in New York are overweight or obese (1) and many drink one or more sugary drinks each day, this ban starts a conversation that could begin to change attitudes towards food and drink and start to reverse this statistic.

"I applaud Mayor Bloomberg’s initiative as I believe he’s one of the few people in power who is taking practical measures to fight obesity. We hear a lot about how we shouldn’t be “nannying” people with laws about how they live their lives, but with such a massive problem as the obesity epidemic to deal with, we are way past the point where can trust people to make better choices. We have to help them make better choices. Good for Mayor Mike for putting the health of his city's people first and holding firm against the expected pressure from the food and soda industries."

Jamie Oliver

Steps For Public Health



This week also saw another step forward for public health and transparency over food as McDonald's announced on Wednesday that it would start displaying the number of calories in its items on menu boards nationwide as early as next week.

This move by McDonald’s comes ahead of a federal requirement still under review by the Food and Drug Administration which could force all fast food chains to do so next year, and make help other chains to do the same too.

What do you think about the soda ban and about McDonalds displaying calories? Let us know by posting on our Food Revolution Community page.

The Food Revolution Team

Sources:
1. NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

Photo:(Spencer Platt / Getty Images)LA Times