Bloomberg soda ban: Board of Health eyes popcorn and milkshakes

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(CBS News) While the New York City Board of Health approves of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to cut all large sugary drinks from New Yorker's diets, some members are taking issue with one major point: They don't think the plan goes far enough.

As HealthPop previously reported, Bloomberg has proposed a ban of all sugary drinks larger than 16 ounces throughout the city's restaurants, street carts and stadiums. Only grocery stores and convenience stores would be exempt, as well as drinks that natural fruit juices and drinks with over 50 percent milk. This means while a Big Gulp would still be allowed to be sold at 7-11s, but movie theaters will have to get rid of their larger options. Those businesses who do not comply would face $200 fines.

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The 11-member health panel met on Tuesday in Queens and approved the plan. A public hearing on the issue on July 24, with a final vote is scheduled for Sept. 13. If approved, the new regulations would go in effect on March 2013.

Certain members spoke up, however, saying that the proposal should include other items. Board member Bruce Vladeck questioned why large tubs of popcorn were not included in the ban, according to the New York Daily News. Another member, Dr. Joel Forman, pointed out that even 100 percent juice and milk-containing beverages have large amounts of calories and should not be excluded.

While Dr. Kenneth Popler, board member and president of the Staten Island Mental Health Society, recognized that it would infringe on New Yorkers' rights, he felt that the health benefits were worth it, the Wall Street Journal reported. Obesity has led to 5,800 deaths a year in New York City and costs taxpayers $4 billion, according to statements presented at the meeting.

Others felt that one of the major problems of the plan is that it may have a negative economic impact on poor communities.

"We are targeting the low-income small business rather than the big company," board member Dr. Sixto Caro said according to the Wall Street Jouranl.

Already companies like Starbucks are worried that the ban will affect some of their drinks, including the Frappuccino, according the New York Times. Because many of the amounts of ice, sugar and milk differ in each drink, it makes banning a certain size across the board for the company tricky. The city has recognized that Starbucks' drinks are one of the specific questions that are likely to come up if this become law.

Andrew Moesel, spokesman for the New York Restaurant Association, attended the meeting and told the New York Daily News he didn't approve of the changes, and his group is considering legal action.

"We don't know if next it'll be 16 fries on a plate or only one hot dog a day," Mosel said to the New York Daily News.

The plan has polarized the city. According to a recent poll of 500 New Yorkers, 53 percent said the proposal is a bad idea, HealthPop reported. Many said that they didn't think the plan would help people lose weight, and more than half had never bought a beverage size that would be banned under the proposal.

[Stevenapoli7]

I drink what I want and I don't take orders from Jews.

[mmj75]

I think Bloomberg should confiscate everyone's Microwave, ovens, and refrigerators in New York. And he can hire his company to bring nutritional plate dinners at every New York home, businesses and schools. Close down the grocery stores, restuarants (for which they suppose to be famous for) and sidewalk vendors. Not only will his New Yorkers will be fit and trim, they will save a lot on electricity! Does this sound silly, well as silly as telling people what size drink they can have or sell, can't eat popcorn nor drink milkshakes.

[mmj75]

I think Bloomberg should confiscate everyone's Microwave, ovens, and refrigerators in New York. And he can hire his company to bring nutritional plate dinners at every New York home, businesses and schools. Close down the grocery stores, restuarants (for which they suppose to be famous for) and sidewalk vendors. Not only will his New Yorkers will be fit and trim, they will save a lot on electricity! Does this sound silly, well as silly as telling people what size drink they can have or sell, can't eat popcorn nor drink milkshakes.

[phwtb100]

This is CRAP! When are people going to realize we are turning into a dictator stage with our government!!?? NYC 'officials', health panels, or anyone else for that matter, DO NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY to tell people what they can and cannot eat or drink!

WAKE UP!!

This country is 'free liberty-ing' itself into the grave yard! We have come to the point in our 'time' that we MUST stand up for what is right and SCREAM BLOODY MURDER about what is wrong!! We cannot continue to give into special interest groups AND protect the rights of the MAJORITY. Not ANY special interest group!

Government officials are ALWAYS throwing out crap like this:

"Obesity has led to 5,800 deaths a year in New York City and costs taxpayers $4 billion, according to statements presented at the meeting."

PROOF IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PLEASE tell me how EACH and everyone of those OBESITY deaths cost the "taxpayers" $689,655.17.

The deaths did not cost the taxpayers! Your HEALTH CARE system CHARGED the taxpayers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WAKE UP!!!

BITE ME, BLOOMBERG!
It's none of your business what I eat or drink. Period.

[BonnyBrown]

Free enough to choose to kill an unborn child, but not free enough to choose what size drink you want. The mind of a liberal.

[liberalmike]

I believe you have the facts all wrong.
bloomberg ran as an independent on the republican ballot in 2009 for mayor and that makes him another hypocrite republican that always speaks of less govt. but somehow wants to add more when they feel the need.

[fiddlestickawshucks]

Bloomberg and the 11 member health committee should take Bloomberg's $9 million dollars and start their own private city; preferably in the middle of the Badlands of Dakota.

What part of "Americans want smaller government and less intereference in their lives" do these people not understand.?

First it was soda.

Now they want to add popcorn and milkshakes.

This is not to mention that the "food police" are constantly blathering on about one substance or another is poisoning you this week and two weeks later telling us it will cure everything from apoplexy to zits.

A friends father-in-law ate six eggs, 1/2 lb. of bacon, homefries, 4 slices of toast with butter and jelly and washed it down with a minimum of 4 cups of coffee every day of his adult life

He died at 98.

How do all the meddlers think more and more people are living to be 100 or better without the knowledge of all this crap being slung at them everyday.

We are at enough risk everyday eating all the "healthy" foods these people reccomend, because every week one healthy food or another is being recalled because it's contaminated with e-coli, listeria or berri-berri.

If we paid attention to every word that comes out of their mouths, we would be blithering idiots in a month.

Tell Bloomberg and the health committee to keep their noses in their own trough!! and stay out of my deli, my movie theater, my coffee shop and stay away from my hot dog cart too.!!

[Lev8mysoul]

Hey GOVERNMENT

IT'S MY LIFE!!! STAY OUT OF IT

[nmfaxman]

Who the F are they to tell me how to live my life?
I would rather die of something I did in my LIFE, than die of nothing or hit by a bus while I was jogging.
I would like our elders to take a basic computer class because that is how society works now. It would make my job easier, but to make it a law is tantamount to communism if not outright BIG BROTHER telling us all how to live.
Where are our freedoms going?
Sniff, Sniff, smells like the Hoy Paloi trying to remake everyone into their ideal individual that makes money for them with the least amount of support and or effort on their parts.
What I do in my life is my business as long as I show up to work on time and do my best at what I do.
After hours is nobodies business but my own.
This is why it is called FREEDOM!