The major U.S. soda companies set a goal to reduce by 20 percent the calories that each American consumes in beverages by 2025. Coca-Cola, Dr Pepper and Pepsi joined the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation in the initiative, said the American Beverage Association. It will promote smaller serving sizes and consumption of water or other no- or low-calorie drinks. The ABA said the project “is the single-largest voluntary effort by an industry to fight obesity.”
The New York Times says sales of sugary beverages have been on the decline for a decade. It quoted Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition, as saying soda companies “are totally dug in, fighting soda tax initiatives in places like Berkeley and San Francisco.” As well, the companies have diversified their operations to include water, juice and energy drinks.