It seems like soda tax propositions are popping up like mushrooms after spring showers across the country. And everywhere they do, the beverage industry is there, like a wild boar, ready to stomp them down.

Last week, Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter wanted to raise $77 million annually from a tax on sugary soft drinks. A local bottler and multimillionaire offered a bribe donation of $10M to help promote health and recreation programs in the next 2 years. City council shot down the tax regardless.

And now the Washington DC city council is proposing a 1 cent tax per fluid ounce. CalorieLab tells of the novel approach by the American Beverage Association:

the “grassroots” tactic adopted by the beverage industry: Recruiting local businesses to be the public face of their campaign. Expect to see this become a standard play by Big Soda wherever the soda tax rears its head. Ed & Betty’s Corner Grocery gets a lot more sympathy in the average household … [rather] than Pepsico, Inc.

In all likelihood, this proposed tax will not make it. Consumer sentiment is already against paying more for anything.

On the other hand, there is no doubt that sugary drinks are a top contributor to our nation’s obesity epidemic. The beverage industry has externalized all the health related costs in order to bring consumers a “cheap” drink.

(Cheap is relative though. Tap water is much cheaper than soda. And healthier too.)

So how to get the beverage industry to shoulder the responsibility? It’s a major challenge. We have suggested in the past the implementation of a calorie offset solution, but there could be other ways to reduce the financial incentive of manufacturing sugary drinks, and shifting efforts by industry towards other areas.

What to do at the supermarket:

Skip the beverage aisles. A family of 4 can save $500 a year by switching from soft drinks to tap water. And several pounds per person. Not to mention the number of plastic bottles not contaminating landfills.

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A 10 year old nephew recently nagged enough and got the above pictured “snack”.  The product includes a “lemonade lollipop” to be dunked in a green “sour apple slime” and then coated with a “sour cherry powder”.

It’s the perfect eye-catching, tongue-pleasing treat for Spongebob Squarepants fans.

Or is it?

What you need to know:

The product is made in China for a Phildelphia based distributor called Frankford Candy and Chocolate Co.

A package includes 1 serving with absolutely no nutritional value, but 21 grams of sugar (5 teaspoons worth).

Here is the ingredient list:
Glucose syrup, Sugar, Dextrose, lactic acid, malic acid, water, artificial flavors, corn starch, geltain, preservatives (sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate), and artificial colors (FD&C Red #3, Red #40, Yellow #5, Yellow #6, Blue #1 & Titanium Dioxide)

Glucose syrup, Sugar, Dextrose – all synonyms for sugar
Lactic acid – a milk acid found in sour milk products. In most commercial uses it is derived not from milk but rather from bacteria that ferments non dairy foodstuff such as potatoes and molasses. It is found in foods as a pH-adjusting ingredient and/or  as an antioxidant.
Malic acid (E296) – provides tartness.
Artificial flavors – we weren’t expecting anything natural here.
Corn starch – used as a thickener
Sodium Benzoate (E211) – a preservative used to prevent food from molding. When mixed with ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) sodium benzoate transforms into benzene, a known carcinogen and DNA damager.
Potassium Sorbate (E202) – a preservative that inhibits yeasts and molds. Considered safe.
Artificial colors – though the FDA considers them safe, in Europe manufacturers are beginning to phase them out because some studies have shown that they can lead to hyperactive children.

So, not a single redeeming ingredient in here, except for the few drops of water in the “green slime”.

After reviewing this product, we can’t help but urge the company to reconsider its name and change it to Frankenfood Candy and Chocolate.
To the company’s merit, at least it is not trying to hide what it sells and make silly health claims like some of the bigger snack manufacturers out there.

What to do at the supermarket:

Would you let your kids have this as an occasional treat?

What if they really begged?

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flickr photo: iambarr

Philadelphia has joined New York City, the state of California, and several other counties in requiring chain restaurants to disclose nutrition information. CSPI reports:

Beginning on Jan. 1, 2010, chain restaurants with more than 15 outlets will have to disclose calories on menu boards, and calories, saturated and trans fat, sodium and carbohydrates on printed menus. The measure passed today by the Philadelphia City Council is the strongest in the nation so far, and we hope it is used as a model for other jurisdictions.

Read more…

You can download the resolution here [PDF].

What you need to know:

For every dollar spent on food in the US, 45 cents are for fare consumed outside the home. This includes many chain restaurants. Unlike packaged foods at the supermarket (which include nutrition information that helps consumers make better decisions), food served at restaurants is health information-free.

The logic behind the recent legislation is that by informing consumers about the nutritional value of items on the menu, they’ll be able to make better personal choices. Many see this as an opportunity to help battle obesity; others claim it will take the joy away from dining out.

Does transparency of information empower consumers to make better choices? Will the new data change ordering patterns at Starbucks and McDonald’s? Will Pizza Hut reformulate leaner dishes? It will be interesting to watch as the statistics pile up in the coming years.

Remember, nutrition labels have been around in supermarket foods for over 15 years, a time period when America has gained more weight than ever. Sadly, it seems like access to knowledge does not always translate to action.

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