American Medical Association Takes Hard Stance on Sugary Beverages, Processed Meats

Great news out of the American Medical Association (which we hope Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics leadership is aware of):

“At the 2017 AMA Annual Meeting, the House of Delegates (HOD) took action on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and availability of healthful foods in hospitals, food banks and food-assistance programs.”

Highlights:

* “In hopes of limiting the consumption of beverages with added sugars, the AMA adopted policy encouraging “hospitals and medical facilities to offer healthier beverages, such as water, unflavored milk, coffee and unsweetened tea, for purchase in place of SSBs.” Delegates also will ask such outlets to display “calorie counts for beverages in vending machines to be visible next to the price.”

* “New AMA policy encourages physicians to suggest their patients “replace SSBs with healthier beverage choices, as recommended by professional society clinical guidelines.” Physicians should also work with “local school districts to promote healthy beverage choices for students.”

(DFPI ADDS: Note the absence of industry-friendly rhetoric like “sugary beverages have a place in a balanced and healthful diet.”)

* “Delegates also adopted policy favoring evidenced-based strategies to reduce consumption of SSBs including: imposing excise taxes, restricting access to SSBs in schools and other settings, using warning labels to educate consumers on the health harms of SSBs and using plain packaging. The council’s report cited a projection that cutting sugar consumption could save nearly $1 billion in health care costs, primarily due to diabetes prevention.”

* “The AMA will also “assist state and local medical societies in advocating for excise taxes on SSBs as requested.”

* Along with moving to cut down on sugary drinks served in hospital, the AMA will “call on United States hospitals to improve the health of patients, staff and visitors by providing a variety of healthful food, including plant-based meals, and meals that are low in fat, sodium and added sugars.” Delegates also want hospitals to “eliminate processed meats from menus.”

We always appreciate when a health organization takes a committed stand on an issue. It seems like it’s easier to do that when there is an absence of food industry sponsorship.