BEVERAGE INDUSTRY REFUTES CDC REPORT ON ADDED SUGARS

The American Beverage Association (ABA) issued a statement disputing findings from the recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that blamed beverages as one of the leading sources of calories from added sugars in the diet of U.S. children and adolescents.

The CDC report stated U.S. children are consuming too much sugar, with approximately 16% of total daily caloric intake coming from added sugars in foods and beverages. ABA noted the data brief makes two things clear—beverages do not uniquely contribute to obesity, and they are not the leading source of added sugar calories in the diet of American children and adolescents.

Responding to "Consumption of Added Sugar Among U.S. Children and Adolescents, 2005-2008," a data brief from the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, the ABA statement said: "Our industry provides consumers with more choices, smaller portions and fewer calories than ever before. In fact, the development of more low- and no-calorie beverages has helped drive a 23% reduction in the average calories per serving since 1998. And while beverage calories continued to decline during that time, obesity rates continued to climb according to CDC.

Calories from sugar-sweetened beverages-including soft drinks, juice drinks, flavored waters and other beverages-make up only 7% of the calories in the American diet according to a National Cancer Institute analysis of government data submitted to the U.S. Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. That means that 93% of our calories come from other sources."

According to the CDC report boys consumed more added sugars than girls, while preschoolers consumed the fewest calories from added sugars. Although girls consumed a smaller absolute amount of calories from added sugars than boys, their intakes were not that different from boys when the amounts are expressed as a percentage of total caloric intakes.

ABA noted that in schools, the beverage industry is providing many beverages—from low- and no-calorie sodas to sports drinks to juices—in smaller portion sizes. This shift to smaller-portion options is one part of the industry's national School Beverage Guidelines.