It's a telling sign that the soda industry knows it is
losing its battle to stay in America's schools when its lobbyists are
congratulating themselves for lower sales. They're trying to make it
seem like it's their benevolence and self-restraint that were
responsible for a decline and not the parents, and increasingly, some
policymakers, who are sick of soda companies putting profits ahead of
our kids' health. If they think soda sales in schools have declined
now, they should wait until the statewide reforms in California and New Jersey kick in, as well as the improvements pending in many other big school systems.
Of
course, the American Beverage Association has been fighting parents'
efforts to improve school foods every step of the way. This is an
industry that only makes concessions to public health when they're on
the verge of being forced to. Remember, these are the same folks who
not too long ago licensed their logos for use on baby bottles and
defended Coke marketing in Africa as if it were famine relief. If they
now are concerned with fending off parents' lawsuits, I suggest that
they be content with selling their obesity-inducing product in
virtually every public place in America other than schools.
Spin notwithstanding, soft drinks such as soda and so-called
'sports drinks' are the biggest single source of kids' calories. Any
serious plan to make a dent in childhood obesity would put curbing soda
consumption at the top of the list. This study doesn't add much to the
sum of human knowledge on soda sales in school. It's just a panicky and
desperate attempt at public relations.
