California Senate Passes Warning Label Legislation for Sugary Drinks
The California Senate has passed a bill (S.B. 1000) that would require all sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) containing more than 75 calories per 12-ounce serving to carry labels warning of obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. Milk-based beverages and 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices would be exempt. Introduced in February 2014 by state Sen. Bill Monning (D-Carmel) and co-sponsored by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, the “Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Safety Warning Act,” is backed by the California Medical Association, Latino Coalition for a Healthy California and California Black Health Network.
Noting “overwhelming evidence” linking obesity and the consumption of sweetened beverages,” and claiming that SSBs are the “single largest source of added sugars in the American diet,” the bill specifically seeks to “protect consumers and promote informed purchasing decisions . . . about the harmful health effects that result from the consumption of drinks with added sugars.”
If passed by the Assembly and signed by the governor, the measure would take effect July 1, 2015. Further details about S.B. 1000 appear in Issue 514 of this Update.
Issue 525
