New York, NY – Today, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Chair of the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection, and Assemblyman Richard N. Gottfried, Chair of the Committee on Health, held a joint public hearing on A.2320, sponsored by Assemblyman Dinowitz, which would require warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages sold in New York. Chairman Dinowitz and Chairman Gottfried, along with colleagues from the Assembly, heard testimony on the bill from public agencies, institutions of higher education, business groups, and advocacy organizations.

Assemblyman Dinowitz said, “Today’s hearing brought together public health experts, city officials, and business representatives to provide invaluable feedback on my bill to require warning labels on sugary drinks sold in New York. It is widely accepted that the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is a primary contributor to rising rates of obesity and diabetes in New York and across the United States, which kill thousands of people and add billions of dollars to our country’s health care costs. Given what we know about the dangers sugary drinks pose to our society, it is only appropriate that we place warning labels on these products, allowing consumers to make more informed choices about what they purchase. As the primary sponsor of this bill, and as Chair of the Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection, I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this vitally important piece of legislation.”

“Obesity, diabetes and heart disease are epidemic, and sugary sodas are a major factor. This is a public health crisis, like tobacco,” said Assembly Member Gottfried. “Health warnings make sense, just like for tobacco.”

The proposed warning label would read, “Safety Warning: Drinking beverages with added sugar contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay.”

Representatives from the following organizations attended Monday’s hearing:

• NYC Department of Consumer Affairs
• NYC Department of Health and Human Hygiene
• Food Industry Alliance of New York State
• American Academy of Pediatrics, District II (New York State)
• The Business Council of New York State, Inc.
• American Diabetes Association
• American Heart Association
• Columbia University Institute of Human Nutrition
• NYU School of Medicine
• NYC Food Policy Center at Hunter College/CUNY
• Rudd Center for Food Policy at the University of Connecticut
• Center for Science in the Public Interest
• Public Health Association of New York City
• Coalition for Asian American Children and Families

The prevalence of obesity in New York State has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. While there is certainly more than one cause for this increase, many public health authorities and nutrition experts believe that sugar-sweetened beverages are a unique contributor to excess caloric consumption. The Institute of Medicine estimated that 20% of the total weight increase in the United States between 1977 and 2007 can be attributed to sugar-sweetened beverages. The effects of obesity are of particular concern because obesity is associated with health ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, and certain types of cancer. To cite just one example, according to a study by the Harvard School of Public Health, people who consume sugary drinks regularly – 1 to 2 cans or more each day – have a 26% greater risk of developing type II diabetes. These ailments inflict a tremendous financial cost on Americans: each year, obesity-related ailments account for $147 billion in health care costs nationally. Much of these costs are paid publicly through the Medicare and Medicaid programs, putting a strain on states' limited resources.