PepsiCo Inc. announced on March 16th plans to halt the sale of sugary drinks in schools worldwide by 2012. The world’s second-largest soft-drink firm behind Coca-Cola stated that it will pull sweetened, full-calorie drinks from elementary and secondary schools — and instead expand offerings of low-calorie beverages. This action is being applauded because of its global ramifications. PepsiCo already has a policy in place in the U.S.
Kelly Brownell, director of Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity noted that tobacco companies “were notorious for counteracting sales in the U.S. with exploitation of markets elsewhere, particularly in developing countries.” The World Heart Federation has been negotiating with soft drink makers to have them remove sugary beverages from schools for the past year. Pekka Puska, president of the Federation stated, ” It may be not so well known in the U.S. how intensive the marketing of soft drinks is in so many countries.” He added that developing countries such as Mexico are particularly affected by this strong marketing.
“We have long advocated for school settings to be made as conducive as possible to promoting the health of students, and we have programs under way with school authorities in several countries to do that,” PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Indra Nooyi said in the company’s statement.
Academic researchers have pointed to sodas as being key contributors to the nation’s youth obesity problem. The soda industry has recently established a partnership with First Lady Michelle Obama to make labels more clear about a product’s calorie count. Michelle Obama has launched a Let’s Move campaign to end child obesity in a generation.
Coca-Cola made an announcement last week that it would not sell its drinks globally in primary schools unless the schools asked them to do so “to meet hydration needs,” and will continue to sell sugary sodas in high schools. The Associated Press reported that the company said school authorities “should have the right to choose what is best for their schools. Coca-Cola Co., like Pepsi, adopted guidelines to stop selling sugary drinks in U.S. schools in 2006.
What are your thoughts on this issue? How do you feel about Coca-Cola’s global policy?
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13 Responses to Pepsi To End School Sales By 2012
I absolutley don’t think elementary or middle schools should have soda machines- but in high school? Give me a break. I think by the time you can legally drive and join the army you can be trusted with the decision to choose a water bottle or a pepsi.
this is kinda off topic; does anyone know anything about the coorelation between over-eating and diet sodas? i was told, and i can’t find a lot on it, that diet sodas made people hungry and eat more. it was said that it created a craving for food.
on topic, i don’t have a problem with high schools and maybe middle schools offering sodas…as long as they are also offering (at a comparable price) juices, tea, water, and milks. by that age they know what is good for them and also know if they are allowed to have the sodas as per their parents.
I wouldn’t have liked high school w/o my Pepsi. I can’t remember if I drank it for lunch every day. I don’t think I did. I do remember I would be wanting one for after-school activities, sports and whatever else we were doing or watching.
I don’t think it should be in the elementary schools either.
I absolutley don’t think elementary or middle schools should have soda machines- but in high school? Give me a break. I think by the time you can legally drive and join the army you can be trusted with the decision to choose a water bottle or a pepsi.
But they aren’t being banned from drinking Pepsi; they can still get it at the store, presumably. I don’t think it’s a bad idea, if schools are going to be providing food for purchase, that they try to provide foods and drinks that are healthy. It seems pretty common sense to me.
Of course, I don’t actually trust most 18-year-olds to make the right decisions on soda v. Pepsi, either.
I kind of wonder how Coke justifies not selling to schools in the U.S. but selling outside of the U.S.
Kimmie,
I too have heard that theory but not sure if there is any scientific evidence to support that. It kind of makes sense to me. I have heard both that sugar substitutes make you hungrier and also that they increase your cravings for other forms of sweets.
I worked in high schools since 1990 and did see the gradual removal of soft drinks over the past 7 or 8 years. There are other drinks available still on campuses such as Gatorade that I believe still have a high caloric and sugar count.
I think Pepsi is doing the right thing. A good deal of high school kids are only 14 and 15 and don’t make the right choices. With both a nutrition and lunch break and after school activities, they can certainly consume quite a bit of soda while they are not under their parent’s watchful eyes.
I know people get tired of hearing this, but you know I am going to say it anyway, LOL. When I was growing up, we did not have soda at school. Nada. Only at the football and basketball games on a Friday night. Soda was a treat in our family and we were only allowed to have it on weekends and only in limited amounts. Not one of my five siblings had a weight issue and I can only think of a limited few students that were overweight at school. Of course we were more of a physically active generation back then because of our lack of video games, computers or unlimited TV programming that kids have now days.
I agree with Jennie. If they want a Pepsi or Coke, they can still get it in a store. I just don’t believe it should be sold at schools.
But they aren’t being banned from drinking Pepsi; they can still get it at the store, presumably. I don’t think it’s a bad idea, if schools are going to be providing food for purchase, that they try to provide foods and drinks that are healthy. It seems pretty common sense to me.
And yet greasy pizzas, fatty hot dogs and the like remain on the menu- daily in most high schools. 18 yr olds don’t make the best choices- neither no 21 yr olds. I don’t think at this age a protective bubble from soda is all that necessary. Half the kids around here leave campus for lunch anyway. My high school had a soda machine and (gasp) a machine with candy bars etc in it. I indulged in a dr pepper at least 2 or 3 days a week and the caffeine often kept me from strangling my Algebra II teacher. But myself and 98% of my classmates were in great health and great shape. The soccer field probably had a lot to do with it. I don’t know why but things like this irritate the daylights out of me. I guess next they will be removed from every college campus as well- I mean, why should it be off limits in May but fine in September?
There is such a thing as overkill. I can’t speak for any of you, but Soda was the very least problem in my high school’s cafeteria.
Sam,
I don’t know about your area , but school menus have changed drastically in the last five years. Greasy pizza is no longer an option in a lot of districts. Salads, fruits and fibers are now offered in abundance. School menus have changed. Are there still fattening foods available? Yes.
We also are not just talking about 18 year olds. My son was 13 when he entered high school. The cut off in California is December so there actually are quite a few 13 year olds.
I think I am advocating for wise choices. As a school nurse, when soda and hot cheetos were offered on our campus, that is all that the students would eat. Now, I do see them making wise choices. I was actually initially annoyed when pepsi and coke were removed from the campuses but now I am of the thinking that if we can remove this temptation at least 6 or 8 hours of the day we are ahead of the game.
Also as a school nurse, I have seen Type 2 Diabetes increase dramatically over the last five years. We have a major problem here with our children and their weight. Will taking soda out of the schools help? I can only hope so.
Pam,
That is not the case here and that is why we are lunch packers in this house. Certainly there are salads and fruits but the same old unhealthy offerings are there. I hope that removing soda from schools makes an improvement in the health of kids around the country, but the rational part of me highly doubts it, it seems like a band-aid on a gun shot wound. I don’t believe it’s the occasional soda at lunch that has increased obesity or diabetes. I think the problem lies largely at home- and in the amounts of fast food consumed, and the junk after school, and the lack of daily physical activity that has been traded for tv and video games. But that’s just my opinion, I’m certainly not a nurse or a doctor or a nutritionist As Jennie referenced, it just seems like common sense to me.
I kind of wonder how Coke justifies not selling to schools in the U.S. but selling outside of the U.S. – Jennie
I agree. That doesn’t sit well with me and I fear they may be taking advantage of people who don’t have the opportunity to be as well-educated about food choices as we in the U.S. are (even if we don’t follow the advice!)
I also see Samantha’s point. Some of this does seem more to make a point than to really address the root causes of the problems we as Americans have with food. I also wonder about Diet Coke. Is that off limits? It’s not sugary, but is full of chemicals. Full disclosure – I typically drink a can or two of diet Coke a day and SURPRISE, I am not a size 2, despite not consuming the real high calorie stuff.
I guess I am kind of conflicted on this. Funny tie-in with the Gosselins. Do you guys remember when Kate did a campaign to encourage packing a lunch for school kids? I think Samantha makes a good point. As parents we don’t have a lot of control, but when kids are younger, packing their lunch (thereby having a say in what they consume) seems to be one of the ways we can encourage healthier choices.
My kids go to a private high school and they have very limited options at lunch. What they can choose is greasy, fattening fast food, and soda and snack foods from vending machines. They pack luch instead every single day. What they bring is nutritionally balanced. I would love to see healthier options and the soda removed. It’s not the worst thing they come across, certainly, but it is problem that is easily fixed.
Public schools are supposed to teach children about good nutrition. Soft drinks are empty calories that promote tooth decay. Why should my tax dollars go toward providing that option? I think that if people want a Coke, they can go buy it at a store. They should pack it in their lunches if they want the option. The schools should not be selling it though. I know it won’t kill you and you can happily enjoy cola in moderation without lasting ill-effects. That is why I don’t think it should be banned in school. It just shouldn’t be sold there, IMO.
Ann,
That is an important point, it is not being banned in schools. It is just not being sold.
I’m all for Pepsi pulling out of schools. If kids want it, they’ll get it on their way home from school at the local 7-11.
Our school lunches have gradually become more healthy. There is a show on tonight on ABC with Chef Jamie Oliver trying to get towns to eat right.
I pack my kids’ lunches. Our school lunches aren’t too bad, but I really would like to see more healthier options. Options that are more from the earth than a can.
Slightly off-topic.
Theresa said: Options that are more from the earth than a can.
There are lots of good tips for eating healthy out there such as “Eat the rainbow; more color = more nutrients.” Another is to eat from the perimeter of the grocery store. The processed stuff is in boxes and cans in the middle of a typical grocery store. The fresh vegetables, fruits, meat, and fish, and dairy is usually located around the perimeter. Theresa’s line “more from the earth than a can” reminds me of this. We should email it to the Department of Agriculture!