Soft drink companies cut the number of sugary beverages offered in US schools

A deal made by soft drink companies including Coca-Cola and PepsiCo to cut the number of fizzy, sugary beverages offered to US school students has been deemed a success.

As New York leaders push for a "soda tax" to help tackle obesity, former president Bill Clinton announced yesterday (March 8th) that the initiative by the American Beverage Association has helped cut shipments of full-sugar soft drinks to schools by 95 per cent compared with 2004 levels.

The new guidelines - laid out in conjunction with the Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association - have replaced sugar-laden drinks in elementary and middle schools with 100 per cent juice drinks, low-fat milk and bottled water.

In high schools diet beverages and calorie-capped sports drinks, flavoured waters and teas are also allowed.

"There's been a dramatic shift toward lower calorie and more nutritious beverages in schools," Clinton told a news conference, reported by Reuters.

"It could lay the foundation for broader changes in our society."

Both PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have also recently announced moves to boost promotions of their diet and sugar-free variants in their marketing plans for 2010.

Posted by Philippa Atkins