California Lawmakers Reject Sugary Drink Health Warning Labels

19 Jun 2014 --- California lawmakers voted to reject a bill yesterday to put health risk warnings on sugary drinks. The news comes as a blow to health campaigners who were greatly encouraged in May when the state’s Senate passed Senator Bill Monning’s Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Safety Warning Act.

The SB1000 bill proposed that certain sodas, energy drinks and fruit drinks containing added sugar and 75 calories or more per 12 fl oz, bear a label reading ‘State of California Safety Warning: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay”. The bill needed ten votes to pass yesterday but only secured 7-8 while the Senate vote in May was 21-13.

The bill was developed by public health advocates using cigarette and alcohol warnings as a model. Representatives of the beverage industry argued that the bill was unfair by not applying to other foods and drinks. 

“While I am disappointed SB 1000 did not pass out of Committee, I remain committed to pursuing this issue and being part of a broad public health campaign to educate communities about the proven health risks of sugary drinks,” stated Monning. “Protecting the public’s health from the adverse effects of these products will help combat the diabetes and obesity epidemics in California.”

Health campaigners were greatly encouraged in May when it looked as if California would be the first state to add these labels. At the time, professor Simon Capewell, a professor at the University of Liverpool, said that the “proposals may herald a tipping point in public attitudes and political feasibilities” and that “investors, industrialists, and international health groups will all be watching closely”.

Meanwhile, Professor Graham MacGregor from Action on Sugar said in May, “We know that our current nutritional labelling on sugar is confusing for consumers, therefore health warnings on sugary drinks would be the right move to educate consumers about the harmful amount of hidden sugars. We support the new health bill in the State of California and would encourage all countries to consider a similar policy.”

CalBev, the California arm of the American Beverage Association, says it posts calorie counts on the front of many beverage containers as part of a voluntary campaign that started in 2010.