PepsiCo: No Sugary Drinks in World Schools

(CBS/AP)  PepsiCo plans to remove sugary drinks from schools worldwide, following the success of programs in the U.S. aimed at cutting down on childhood obesity.

The company said Tuesday it will remove full-calorie, sweetened drinks from schools in more than 200 countries by 2012, marking the first such move by a major soft drink producer.

In primary schools, that means PepsiCo Inc. will sell only water, fat-free or low-fat milk, and juice with no added sugar. In secondary schools, it will sell those drinks along with low-calorie soft drinks, such as Diet Pepsi, which has zero calories. Sports drinks are permissible when they're sold to students participating in sports or other physical activities.

At first glance, a number of the company's brands would still be sold in schools around the world without breaking PepsiCo's pledge. Those brands include:

• Aquafina bottled water
• Gatorade sports drinks
• Propel Fitness Water
• Tropicana juice drinks

Brands that appear to fall under the company plans, minus the low-calorie exemption, include:

• 7Up
• AMP Energy
• Mountain Dew
• Pepsi
• Sierra Mist

Both PepsiCo, the world's second-biggest soft drink maker, and No. 1 player Coca-Cola Co. adopted guidelines to stop selling sugary drinks in U.S. schools in 2006.

The World Heart Federation has been negotiating with soft drink makers to have them remove sugary beverages from schools for the past year as it looks to fight a rise in childhood obesity, which can lead to diabetes, heart problems and other ailments.

PepsiCo's move is what the group had been seeking because it affects students through age 18, said Pekka Puska, president of the group, a federation of heart associations from around the world. He said he hopes other companies feel pressured to make similar moves.

"It may be not so well known in the U.S. how intensive the marketing of soft drinks is in so many countries," Puska said in an interview from Finland. He added that developing countries such as Mexico are particularly affected by this strong marketing.

Coca-Cola this month changed its global sales policy to say it won't sell any of its drinks worldwide in primary schools unless parents or school districts ask. The policy does not apply to secondary schools. The World Heart Federation wants all drinks with added sugars removed from schools with children through age 18.

Coca-Cola, based in Atlanta, did not immediately return a request seeking comment Tuesday.

PepsiCo's policy requires cooperation from its bottlers, vending companies and other distributors who take the company's products to schools worldwide. The company said it did not have exact figures for sales in schools around the world but said they did not make up a major portion of sales.

In the U.S., the industry has swapped lower-calorie options into schools to replace sugary drinks. Sales of full-calorie soft drinks fell 95 percent in U.S. schools between fall 2004 and fall 2009, the American Beverage Association reported last week.

The industry voluntarily adopted guidelines in 2006 as part of an agreement with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, a joint initiative of former President Clinton's foundation and the American Heart Association.

Puska said defeating childhood obesity isn't as simple as just removing sugary drinks from schools. Students must also exercise and eat better, not just at school but at home as well. Students should learn these habits at schools, he said.

[KSBling]

I have NOT had a sugary soda pop in twenty years. But I am still over weight. You are barking up the wrong tree.

[reyveloz55]

Doubling you portion size with twinkies, lard, and greasy gluttonous foods cancels out not drinking soda you fat bastard. PS exercise may help

[Skruffy1]

Coke and Pepsi can still laugh all the way to the bank, as they sell water in plastic bottles for about as much as their soft drinks cost.

[magnumdr]

Wow. How about candy or a bag lunch from home. Better make sure that these kids dont stop at the backery on the way home from school. No more halloween either. Get real and stop trying to control another persons life. Is the freedom to choose gone in America, and isn't it the parents job to do this. Socialism should not be a part of anybodys buisness in America. Stop making decisions for us.

[KeithDrippingSprings]

This is good news from a corporate giant who could wait until they are forced to take action. I am sorry they will continue to offer artificially sweetened drinks but I don't guess cancer is as much a problem as obesity.

[USMC-Mom]

When I as in school it was white milk or choco milk or the water fountain.
I would have been happy with at least a juice.

[Nate650]

PepsiCo wants to take out the "sugary drinks" but conveniently leave the chemical-laden diet sodas, which are considered by many to be worse for your health. PepsiCo really doesn't care about consumer health as long as they can still make money. Also, it's sad that these non-fat and low-fat milk are still considered healthier than whole milk by the general public. The whole low-fat campaign was a total failure, as evidence by our poor state of health. The most nutritious milk you can drink is whole raw milk from pastured cows, not milk that has been processed, homogenized, and pasteurized. Our health problems are not because of natural fats (this excludes man-made trans fat of course) but because of cheap industrial processed ingredients and chemicals that our in our food supply.

[CompletelyFrustrated]

This is not the problem entirely, folks. When I was in school the choices were milk (Choc & plain) or water from the tap. Anything else was brought from home in a thermos. While I am not a huge fan of soft drinks being offered in schools, I do not think it is going to stop obesity by taking them out. The schools sell cookies, hot pretzels and buttery popcorn, none of those are overly healthy either.

Every time schools have their budgets threatened they start their cuts with athletic programs. Some schools are trying to eliminate physical education completely!

A kid having juice or a soda at school is nothing compared to coming home to a pile of junk food and Monster or Red Bull and sitting in front of the TV or video console!

Get real people - parents need to accept some of this responsibility and the schools need to snap out of it and realize that physical activity can help kids maintain a healthy lifestyle.

[roach9703]

You are correct! However, PE needs to be built upon cooperation, team building, aerobic and physical strength as well as good health habits.
The Rah Rah needs to go. The false competition needs to go. Finally, kids need to be taught how to throw a ball, make a basket, effective running techniques, etc. Stop playing one kid off another. Teach responsibility.

[thomderr1]

You are both correct. It's a total concept that needs to be taught - health, mind and body.

When I was in school, it was nothing but survival of the fittest. Nothing other than exercise and games. No nutrition or details on healthy eating. Nobody cared.

School districts would benefit from less processed foods, proper cooking (less fried and recipe cooked foods) and fresh fruit and vegetables. It's also much cheaper.