Advocates spar over NYC sugary drink plan - KMSP-TV

The mayor of New York City and health officials made a huge splash by proposing a ban on large-sized sodas and other high sugar drinks. FOX 9 News spoke with Seth Bixby Daugherty, chef and founder of Real Food Initiatives, and Tim Wilkin, president of the Minnesota Beverage Association, to see what all the fizz was really about.

Mayor Bloomberg is behind the push that would outlaw such drinks larger than 16 ounces from restaurants, food carts and any other establishment that receives a letter grade for food service. It would not apply to grocery stores.

The New York City Board of Health will vote on the measure in June.

Center for Science in the Public Interest spokesman Jeff Cronin says his group considers the decision the "boldest move in the country" and "not the first time that Mayor Bloomberg has led the charge."

He also added, "In the same way New York City generated momentum for calorie labeling and for getting rid of artificial trans fat, we hope this move today will start a national movement to ratchet down out of control soda serving sizes."

However, others are saying this is another move by the government to get overly involved in our life and the daily decisions we make.

"There they go again," Stefan Friedman, a spokesman for the New York City Beverage Association, said in a statement. "The New York City Health Department's unhealthy obsession with attacking soft drinks is again pushing them over the top. The city is not going to address the obesity issue by attacking soda because soda is not driving the obesity rates."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that "many people don't realize just how many calories beverages can contribute to their daily intake."

The American Heart Association has recommended people drink fewer than three 12-ounce cans of carbonated cola per week.