Breaking News on Food & Beverage Development - North AmericaEU edition | Asian edition
Soda tax
The idea of taxing soda has been repeatedly raised as a possible way to combat obesity while raising tax revenue. Meanwhile, its opponents say that the beverage industry is being unfairly targeted. FoodNavigator-USA.com has been following the story as it develops.
Tax food makers' caloric sweetener use to reduce consumption, study suggests
Taxing food manufacturers on caloric sweeteners added to foods would be more effective for reducing their consumption than taxing finished sugary foods and drinks, according to new research published in Contemporary Economic Policy.
Are sugary drinks making us fat?
The row about the relationship between sugary drink consumption and spiraling obesity took center stage at the American Dietetic Association (ADA) conference this week with two academics going head to head on one of the most controversial areas of nutrition science.
USDA rejects NYC food stamps soda ban
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials have rejected a proposal from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg that would have banned sugary drinks from the list of products that can be bought with food stamps.
Research into soda consumption and obesity is conflicted, review claims
The effect of sugary beverage consumption on body mass index (BMI) is difficult to discern based on current research, claims a new meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials published in Obesity Reviews.
New study finds link between kids’ BMI and food prices
There is a clear correlation between children’s body-mass-index (BMI) and the price of food and drink, according to new government-backed research.
Soda tax wouldn’t work as obese people prefer diet drinks, study suggests
A tax on sugar-sweetened beverages may not work to reduce obesity – because obese people could have a stronger tendency to buy diet soda, suggests new research from Northwestern University.
Hawaiian health department warns against sugary drinks
The Hawaiian health department has launched a campaign to discourage consumption of sugary beverages, which it claims is strongly correlated with obesity.
Food Stamp soda exemption in NYC is discriminatory, says industry
The beverage industry has accused New York City officials of unfair discrimination in a proposal to prevent food stamp benefits from being used to purchase sugary beverages.
Junk food warning labels could work better than taxes, study suggests
Warning labels on junk foods could work better to deter consumption than taxes alone, according to a new study published in the Journal of Consumer Affairs.
Colorado may regain soft drinks tax exemption
Colorado may regain a tax exemption for sugary soft drinks after a House Republican plan to remove recently imposed taxes passed the state’s finance committee on Wednesday.
Soda tax proposal fizzles in Hawaii
The latest proposal to tax soda at a state level has fizzled, as Hawaiian Senators have voted against a plan to tax sugary drinks by up to 25 cents a bottle.
Hawaiian governor Abercrombie proposes soda tax
Hawaiian governor Neil Abercrombie has proposed establishing a tax on soda and similar beverages in the state, in his first State of the State address.
Soda tax may bring small weight loss, large revenues
Taxing sodas and other sweetened beverages could trigger a small amount of weight loss and could also raise revenues to pay for other anti-obesity measures, claims a new study in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
American Beverage Association spent nearly $4m on anti-tax lobbying in Q2
The American Beverage Association spent $3.5m lobbying the federal government on beverage taxes this month – and a total of $3.95m during the second quarter, according to a disclosure report.
USDA says soda tax would reduce obesity
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) has added its voice to the debate on soda tax and the prevalence of overweight and obesity, saying that a 20 percent price increase would make a significant difference.
Baltimore approves two-cent bottle tax
Baltimore City Council gave its final approval late last week for a two-cent tax on bottled beverages as part of its $2.2bn budget for fiscal 2011.
Harvard researchers show soda ‘tax’ cuts consumption
Sugary soda consumption at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston fell by 26 percent when researchers added a temporary tax, adding weight to the argument for soda taxes, the study’s authors claim.
D.C. Council approves soda tax
The Washington D.C. Council has voted to include sweetened soft drinks in its six percent sales tax bracket to help bridge the city’s half-billion dollar gap between spending and earnings.
Nutter’s soda tax shelved as Philadelphia passes budget
Philadelphia City Council has shelved a proposed soda tax in the state, as it passed a $3.9bn budget on Thursday.
Majority of Californians support soda tax, poll finds
A majority of Californians support a tax on soda to help fund childhood obesity reduction programs, according to a poll carried out on behalf of the California Center for Public Health Advocacy.
Revenue question crucial to NY soda tax acceptance
A new poll from Quinnipiac University suggests that consumers would be more likely to support a tax on sugary beverages if the proceeds were linked to paying for health care reforms.
NY legislature rejects soda tax but negotiations continue
Both the New York State Assembly and Senate have rejected a proposed tax on sugary soft drinks in their budget resolutions, but a decision will only be finalized after negotiations with the state governor.
Small soda taxes don’t affect childhood obesity, study finds
Small taxes on soda do not affect childhood obesity rates, but larger ones could, according to new research published online today in the journal Health Affairs.
18% soda tax would lead to five-pound annual weight loss: Study
An 18 percent tax on soda, as rejected in New York last year, would lead to average annual weight loss of about five pounds per person, according to a new study in The Archives of Internal Medicine.
Taxes more effective than subsidies for reducing calories, suggests study
Taxing unhealthy foods could be a more effective pricing strategy to reduce caloric intake than subsidizing healthy foods, according to a new study published in Psychological Science.
Most New Yorkers support soda tax ‘to balance budget’, survey finds
A majority of New Yorkers support a proposed soda tax, according to a new poll from Quinnipiac University – reversing the response from a similar survey conducted two weeks earlier.
Colorado to remove tax breaks on soda and candy
The Colorado State Senate has passed a bill to remove a tax break on soda and candy, voting along party lines after days of debate.
Nationwide soda tax proposal fizzles out
The prospect of a national tax on soft drinks has been effectively quashed for the time being as a key congressional committee has refused to consider such a levy, according to a report in the LA Times.
LA legislators debate action on soda
Soda tax was on the agenda again yesterday as California legislators debated the possible link between obesity and sugary soft drinks.
Obesity Society urged to dismiss soda tax
The Center for Consumer Freedom has urged attendees of the Obesity Society’s annual meeting to consider obesity a matter of personal responsibility rather than an issue to be regulated by government.
Soda tax: A lot of froth over freedom
Is taxing soda really an evil plan to curb your individual freedom? Conspiracy theories aside, perhaps it’s simply a sensible scheme to tackle obesity when personal choice has failed.
President Obama endorses US soda tax plan
President Barack Obama has lent his support for a soda tax which could benefit children’s health and the nation’s wealth, according to a new report from the Center for Science in the Public Interest.
New report makes the case for nationwide soda tax
The idea of taxing sugary beverages to reduce obesity and bring public health benefits has been raised again in a new report published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Fructose in the firing line
In an exclusive interview with Caroline Scott-Thomas, professor of nutrition Dr Barry Popkin said that he was wrong to single out high fructose corn syrup as largely responsible for obesity. Now he’s taking on another contentious issue: Soda tax.
Current soda taxes don’t curb teen obesity: Study
Soda taxes would have to be “raised substantially” to have a major impact on adolescent weight, according to a new study analyzing the relationship between existing state taxes on soda and obesity rates.
Can a ‘fat tax’ on soda help beat obesity?
The controversial idea of taxing sugary soft drinks to combat obesity has been brought up again this week in a report from the Institute of Medicine. But is a soda tax fair? And can it do enough?
Heart charity sets strict guidelines for added sugar intake
The American Heart Association (AHA) has set down strict guidelines for added sugar intake that put a woman over the daily recommended limit for drinking just one 12-once can of regular soda.
Soft drink tax could save money, says NYC health commissioner
Taxes on sugary soft drinks could actually save taxpayer money through improved health, according to a journal article penned by the New York City health commissioner and a Yale University professor.
US and Mexico announce sweetener free trade deal
The US and Mexico have concluded an agreement under which access will be granted for US high fructose corn syrup exports to Mexico, a move that begins to address the decade long dispute between the two countries.
Spotlight
  HFCS and sugar: Can your body tell the difference after all?The body may absorb more fructose from high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) than it does from sucrose,... |
 Bakers on sodium reduction: We can’t afford to make products consumers won’t buyReducing sodium is expensive and difficult, and many bakers are beginning to wonder whether it is worth... |
 How does Walmart’s new logo fit with other front-of-pack claims?Walmart’s new front-of-pack label might have stricter nutrition criteria than many others currently in use, but how... |
 Industry groups slam call to regulate ‘toxic’ sugar like alcohol or tobaccoIndustry groups have reiterated their position that sugar is fine in moderation, after a provocative commentary in... |
 Walmart Get On The Shelf competition: Gimmick or marketing genius?Ever wondered how to get some face time with the decision makers at Bentonville? |
