For Immediate Release
Contact: Rob Waters; rob-at-preventioninstitute.org; 510-444-7738
"Communities must have the right to protect themselves from the excesses of companies that put profit before health."
Statement of Larry Cohen, MSW
Founder and Executive Director, Prevention Institute
"Industry should not have carte blanche to sell products that make us ill. There is clear and convincing evidence that sugary beverages are detrimental to people's health. New York's effort to impose a reasonable limit on the size of sodas follows a long, proud history of using policy to protect health and individuals. Policies that regulate tobacco, seatbelts and lead in paint were based on this same principle of consumer protection. These laws were controversial when first introduced but now they're a given. New York's soda cap is a small step that helps lead us toward a similar shift in norms."
"Whether or not this specific policy in New York goes into effect, it is clear that things are beginning to change for the food and beverage industry. Cities across the country are taking steps to regulate the marketing of products that harm children and families. Communities must have the right to protect themselves from the excesses of companies that put profit before health. Every day there is news of a hospital or school that is kicking sugary drinks out of their vending machines or a city working to impose small taxes on soda to fund prevention."
Prevention Institute was one of 30 national organizations that joined together to submit friend-of-the-court briefs in favor of the proposed regulation.