Healthier beverages for students

The beverage industry understands the unique educational setting of schools and is proud to be part of a comprehensive solution to address childhood obesity.

It is why the beverage industry partnered with Alliance for a Healthier Generation in 2006 to voluntarily implement beverage guidelines in schools across Missouri and the nation. These guidelines remove full-calorie soft drinks from all schools. They limit beverage offerings to water, milk and 100 percent juice for elementary and middle school students, as younger children need more guidance to choose foods and beverages appropriate for their nutrition and caloric needs. High school students are offered more beverage options; however, calories are capped and portion sizes have been reduced.

Nearly 80 percent of schools under contract with bottlers are in full compliance after only two years. The Missouri Beverage Association proudly anticipates having full compliance across the state this fall.

We hope Missourians will support our voluntary effort to remove full-calorie soft drinks from all schools. Any proposed state legislation to set nutrition requirements for school beverages is not only unnecessary but lags behind efforts already underway by our industry.

While others are talking, we are taking action by voluntarily providing Missouri school children with lower-calorie and smaller-portion beverage choices.

JOHN SCHAEFER, President, Missouri Beverage Association, Springfield, Mo.