The issue is not new. In 1942 the American
Medical Association mentioned soft
drinks specifically in a strong recommendation
to limit intake of added sugar.1 At that
time, annual US production of carbonated
soft drinks was 90 8-oz (240-mL) servings
per person; by 2000 this number had risen
to more than 600 servings.2 In the intervening
years, controversy arose over several fundamental
concerns: whether these beverages
lead to energy overconsumption; whetherthey displace other foods and beverages and,
hence, nutrients; whether they contribute to
diseases such as obesity and diabetes; and
whether soft drink marketing practices represent
commercial exploitation of children.3–5
The industry trade association in the
United States (the American Beverage Association,
formerly the National Soft Drink Association)
counters nutrition concerns with several
key points: (1) the science linking soft
drink consumption to negative health outcomes
is flawed or insufficient, (2) soft drinks
are a good source of hydration, (3) soft drink
sales in schools help education by providing
needed funding, (4) physical activity is more
important than food intake, and (5) it is unfair
to “pick on” soft drinks because there are
many causes of obesity and there are no
“good” or “bad” foods. Similar positions have
been taken by other trade associations such
as the British Soft Drinks Association and the
Australian Beverages Council.