Health campaign to cut back on sugary beverages

A health campaign has been launched aiming to reduce consumption of sugary beverages. So far declines in sugary beverage sales have been seen in Maryland county.

Packed with empty calories, sugary beverages have been linked to weight gain and even heart disease.

The health campaign was set off in 2012 by Horizon Foundation and several community partners to educate the public about the hazards of sugary beverages in an attempt to decrease the consumption.
Between 2012 and 2015, sugary beverage sales dropped nearly 20 percent, while fruit-flavored juice sales fell nearly 15 percent.

Marlene Schwartz, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, explained, “Through complementary strategies from advocating for changes to child care nutrition standards to creating TV ads, ‘Howard County Unsweetened’ made a concerted effort to encourage families to switch their drinks.”