Hey Kids, Here Comes the Pitch (V)

Freakonomics blog points to a press release by the American Beverage Association outlining its new recommendations for cutting back on sodas in school vending machines.  While the idea is great, substituting soda for high-sugar (and thus high-calorie) fruit juice isn't necessarily helpful as calories are calories.  They also list things that they believe to be okay like sports drinks and low-calorie soft drinks.  But sports drinks are generally sweetened with the same high-fructose corn syrup as sodas and even low-calorie soft drinks have artificial sweeteners and caffeine that kids don't need.  Maybe the problem is having vending machines in schools in the first place?

Comments

[Courtney]

Even though Gatorade and Diet Coke are lower in calories, they still pose other risks. Both beverages are really hard on the teeth, for one. Diet Coke, Pepsi, etc, have caffeine, an addictive substance that can cause headaches and other physical side effects. Studies have shown some high school kids (and I've witnessed this myself) have sometimes 5 cans or more of pop a day. That's a lot of caffeine! This can't be a good way to start off adulthood habits.