Beverage Industry Commends Senate for Unanimous Passage of Child Nutrition Bill

Under the voluntary guidelines, 100 percent juice, low-fat milk and bottled water are allowed in elementary and middle schools, with the addition of diet beverages and calorie-capped sports drinks, flavored waters and teas in high schools.

Aug 9 2010 --- The American Beverage Association (ABA) has commended the U.S. Senate for bipartisan passage of the "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act," a bill that will provide necessary funding to federal child nutrition programs.

"We applaud Chairman Miller, Chairwoman Lincoln and their colleagues in the House and Senate for their hard work and commitment to advancing this bill," Susan K. Neely, ABA president and CEO, said. "It is truly a landmark piece of legislation that will help ensure the health of our nation's young people by giving them nutritious food and beverage options in schools."

The beverage industry has a longstanding commitment to the health and wellness of our nation's children. We have already delivered on our commitment to change the beverage landscape in schools with our national School Beverage Guidelines, which have removed full-calorie soft drinks and replaced them with more lower-calorie, nutritious, smaller-portion beverage options. With the guidelines, our companies have slashed beverage calories shipped to schools by a dramatic 88 percent since 2004. These guidelines are having a meaningful impact on our nation's schoolchildren. Under the voluntary guidelines, 100 percent juice, low-fat milk and bottled water are allowed in elementary and middle schools, with the addition of diet beverages and calorie-capped sports drinks, flavored waters and teas in high schools.