The big three: Coke and Pepsi and Dr. Pepper, announced yesterday they would start removing their soft drinks beginning this fall. Under the agreement between the soft drink companies and health advocates, students in elementary school would be served only bottled water, low-fat and nonfat milk, and 100% fruit juice in servings no bigger than eight ounces. Students in middle school would have their serving size increased to 10 ounces. And, in high school, low calorie juice drinks, sports drinks and diet sodas would be permitted and the serving size would be increased another 2 ounces to 12 ounces. I understand the part about not having regular soft drinks like Coke and Pepsi in elementary school, but what's the problem with sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade? Although the plan is voluntary, the American Beverage Association expects 35 million public school children to be affected eventually. The plan will take at least a couple of years to complete, so there is still plenty of time for junior and miss junior to keep downing regular Coke and Pepsi.
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