Bill requiring health labels on sugary drinks fails in Assembly panel - Los Angeles Times
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Bill requiring health labels on sugary drinks fails in Assembly panel

A measure to require health warning labels on sugary drinks, including sodas, failed to advance in the state Legislature Tuesday.
(Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press )
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A proposal to affix health warning labels to sugary drinks, including sodas and sports drinks, failed to win sufficient support in a key Assembly panel Tuesday.

The measure would have required sugary drinks sold in California to be labeled with a warning that sugar contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.

“We’re in the midst of a diabetes and obesity epidemic that is wreaking havoc on the public’s health and driving up healthcare costs,” said state Sen. Bill Monning (D-Carmel), the bill’s author, in his presentation before the Assembly Health committee.

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The bill’s supporters, including the California Medical Assn. and an array of public health groups, argued that labels would help consumers make healthier choices.

But Bob Achermann, of the California/Nevada Soft Drink Assn., said the bill was “punitive and unfair” by designating sugary drinks as a cause of obesity and diabetes.

Other opponents said consumers could be confused if labels were required for soda, but not other high-sugar foods such as cake or candy.

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Some Democrats echoed industry’s concerns.

Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), whose district includes a Coca-Cola manufacturing and distribution plant, said she supported a “holistic” approach to combating the rise of diabetes and other ailments. But said she was “not comfortable singling out a single product.”

The bill got seven ‘aye’ votes — all from Democrats — but short of the 10 votes it needed to pass. The measure was granted reconsideration, meaning Monning can try one more time to push it through the panel.

Follow @melmason for more on California government and politics.

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