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Empty Calories, Empty Promises
Advocates Call New School Beverage Policy a PR Stunt
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 17, 2005
CONTACT: Commercial Free Childhood
Michele Simon, Center for Informed Food Choices, 510-465-0322
Susan Linn, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, 617-278-4282
WASHINGTON - August 17 - Calling the American Beverage Association's
new school beverage policy a publicity stunt, advocates for children
and public health urged legislators to continue their important efforts
to rid the nation's schools of soft drinks. The ABA, the lobbying
arm of Coke and Pepsi, has announced a new "policy" that it claims
is “aimed at providing lower calorie and/or nutritious beverages to
schools and limiting the availability of soft drinks in schools.”
But advocates say the move amounts to no more than a shameless public
relations stunt designed to deflect mounting criticism against the
group's members.
"It's ironic that ABA would choose to make this announcement at the
National Conference of State Legislatures meeting, since its members
lobby against any state bills to get sodas out of schools," said Michele
Simon, director of the Center for Informed Food Choices. In just the
past year alone, such bills in Connecticut, Arizona, Kentucky, and
New Mexico were either killed or watered down thanks to lobbying by
soft drink companies. "If the ABA and its members were serious about
addressing childhood obesity, they'd pledge to immediately stop undermining
the effort of local nutrition advocates."
There is no enforcement or oversight mechanism for the new voluntary
policy. The ABA is a trade association that does not directly control
the sale of soda in schools. Soda is sold in schools through local
distributors controlled by the parent companies, mainly Coca-Cola,
Pepsi-Cola, and Cadbury Schweppes and these companies' guidelines
- such as Coca-Cola's written policy to not sell sodas in elementary
schools – are routinely violated.
"The soft drink industry has repeatedly demonstrated that it cannot
be trusted," said Dr. Susan Linn, co-founder of the Campaign for a
Commercial-Free Childhood and author of Consuming Kids. Dr. Linn noted
that Coca-Cola claims it does not market to children under twelve,
yet there are Coke toys for children as young as two and Coke's product
placement is ubiquitous on American Idol, a top-rated show for children
2-11 and added, "This is an industry that makes empty promises in
order to keep targeting children with empty calories."
Moreover, soda companies have locked school districts into long-term
binding contracts. “Many schools are stuck with soda contracts for
as long as ten years and this new policy cannot change that. Children’s
health should not be exploited for public relations,” said Simon.
The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood is a national coalition
of health care professionals, educators, advocacy groups and concerned
parents who counter the harmful effects of marketing to children through
action, advocacy, education, research, and collaboration among organizations
and individuals who care about children. CCFC supports the rights
of children to grow up – and the rights of parents to raise them –
without being undermined by rampant consumerism.
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