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Letter to the Editor (Vancouver Sun)
 
In response to the scientific statement from the American Heart Association titled "Dietary Sugar Intake and cardiovascular Health" which was reported in your August 25 article titled "New guidelines suggest cutting sugar intake; Researchers take aim at soft drink industry" , Justin Sherwood President of Refreshments Canada, offers the following comment:

"Like many foods, soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages are a source of calories, but they are not a unique risk factor for obesity or other negative health outcomes - including heart disease.

The experts will tell you that no single food causes obesity. In fact, no single food or food ingredient can be held responsible for weight gain - the human body does not differentiate the source of calories consumed.  Rather, the body either uses these calories to produce energy in active people or store them as fat in inactive people.

The solution to obesity lies in encouraging healthy active lifestyles that balance calories in to calories out.  This is something the beverage industry supports and encourages by helping consumers make appropriate choices.  We do this in three ways - by providing easy access to calorie and nutrition information, promoting physical activity and beverage innovation. "

Refreshments Canada is the premier trade association representing the broad spectrum of brands and companies that manufacture and distribute the majority of non-alcoholic liquid refreshment beverages consumed in Canada.
 
For more information please contact:
 
Justin Sherwood
President
Refreshments Canada

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