An effort to cut down on childhood obesity takes aim at sugary drinks in Baltimore.
Soda and sports drinks have been on the watch list of health advocates for some time. A bill to be introduced Monday night before the Baltimore City Council would require warning labels for sugar-sweetened beverages.
Baltimore City Health Commissioner Dr. Leana Wen said the bill is about awareness, education and saving lives.
Baltimore City Councilman Nick Mosby, a Democrat running for mayor, introduced the bill at Monday night's council meeting. He said the bill is designed to educate residents on the dangers of sugar-sweetened beverages, which includes soda, energy drinks, sports drinks, most juices, sweetened coffee drinks and sweetened teas.
"(It's) a substance that is harming and killing our residents," Wen said.
According to the Health Department, one in three school-aged children is overweight or obese in the city. One in four of Baltimore's children drink one or more sodas every day.
Research has shown that sugar-sweetened beverages promote weight gain and are the primary sources of added sugar and calories in children’s diets, health officials said.
"Research shows that companies disproportionately market sugary drinks to poor neighborhoods with African-American and Hispanic children," Wen said.
The bill would require food-service facilities, including restaurants and retailers, certain billboard advertisements and transit ads to post this message: "Warning: Drinking beverages with added sugar contributes to tooth decay, obesity and diabetes."
There is a $500 civil fine for noncompliance.
Members of several area business associations have concerns about the bill, which they said would have a negative impact on businesses in Baltimore.
The groups believe that legislation mandating such warnings would have a "chilling effect" on the city, which is already struggling to retain and attract grocery stores to the area.
“Many residents in the city already live in food deserts and this legislation will do nothing to address this serious problem," said Cailey Locklair Tolle, President of the Maryland Retailers Association in a statement. "Struggling, existing retailers will leave as they are saddled with yet another cost and competitive disadvantage. This bill is bad for retailers, bad for the hospitality industry and bad for the great city of Baltimore."
Ellen Valentino, executive vice president with the Maryland-Delaware-DC Beverage Association, said the beverage industry has been helping to educate the public by voluntarily going beyond government regulations.
"To focus on one ingredient and miss a real message and an important opportunity to talk about lifestyles and diets as a whole is such a disappointment, particularly during a time when businesses are struggling to retain customers in Baltimore City and grow their customer base," Valentino said.
Cafe Hon owner Denise Whiting said the proposal is over the top.
"First of all, I don't think it's going to go anywhere, and if it does, then people won't even see it," Whiting said.
The bill was moved Monday to the Health Committee.