CSD industry abuzz over school vending policy

摘要

Faced with mounting pressure fueled by widespread media attention focused on childhood obesity, the US soft drink industry joined together to draft a school vending policy that it hopes will be part of the solution. The American Beverage Association's board of directors unanimously approved the new policy on Aug. 16. Under the new policy, the industry will offer only water and 100-percent juice to elementary schools. Middle schools would have additional options, including sports drinks, zero-calorie soft drinks and low-calorie juice drinks. No full-calorie soft drinks or full-calorie juice drinks with five percent or less juice will be available in middle schools until after school hours. High school students will have the most flexibility. In addition to all of the products allowed in middle schools, they will be allowed to access regular soft drinks. However, no more than 50 percent of the choices in the vending machines may be soft drinks.