Healthcare Unit

Sections : Obesity, Soda makers

US public consciousness campaigns about sugary soft drinks are constantly being legally attacked by beverage makers which has charged health department of New York City and striked local governments with appeal for documents on science behind the initiatives.  Tremendously increasing obesity rates in Unites States drive up healthcare costs which has favors discouraging consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks and fatty foods.

In this regard, soda industry called it the base attacks and for defending its products its attorneys has filed request documents with public agencies from California to New York. According to anti-obesity advocates, requests which can take hundreds of hours to satisfy cash-strapped government come from tobacco industry’s playbook. Lan McLaughlin, an attorney at National Policy & Legal Analysis Network to prevent childhood obesity in Oakland, California, said it is an attempt to overwhelm or oppress government employees who have a lot to do already. American Beverage Association (ABA) sued Department of Health and mental Hygiene of New York City which is taking keen efforts in the fight against obesity.

A New York health department representative didn’t reply to a request for comment regarding lawsuit which is pending in state court.  A law firm Latham & Watkins issues a letter for Northern California’s Santa Clara County asking about its “Rethink Your Drink” education campaign. Similar requests were sent to Chicago and Seattle county governments concerning their sugary-beverage education efforts.

Daniel Peddycord, Santa Clara County’s public health director, said this is one of those things where science is very clear, Americans are, no doubt, consuming too much sugar. Approximately 2/3^rd of adults and 1/3^rd of children in US are obese and this rate is still increasing. Overweight causes diseases like diabetes and other severe chronic diseases. On an average, an American adult consumes 22 teaspoons, or 355 calories, of added sugars which is quiet above health guidelines. New United States dietary guidelines recommended replacing sugar drinks with drinking water.

Food and beverage companies claim that they are unnecessarily being singled out. Many a times, state and societies have considered putting tax on sugary beverages with a motive to cover obesity-related health costs. In the proposition to stay at the forefront if anti-obesity efforts, fast food companies have asked state legislators to restrict the power of local government to regulate restaurants. When obesity-related diseases have raised to around 10 percent of U.S. medical expenditure, concerning active industries are seeing it as a vague attempt and is trying to fight back rather than making improvements.