A new bill would make warning labels on sodas and additional drinks with sugar mandatory in California.
California State sen. Bill Monning backed the proposed legislation in Sacramento that would put the advisories on the bottles cautioning drinkers about the risks of obesity, and tooth decay Reuters reported Thursday.
"When the science is this conclusive, the state of California has a responsibility to take steps to protect consumers," California state senator Bill Monning told Reuters. "I think there will still be opposition from industry, but we'll probably have stronger support in the legislature."
The label would read, State of California Safety Warning: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes and tooth decay, and would be posted on drinks with at least 75 calories for every 12 ounces Reuters reported
A soda each day can cause an adult's weight to rise around 27 percent, and 55 percent for a child according to studies Reuters reported. Consuming one or two sodas daily can cause the chances of obtaining diabetes 26 percent.
Over a third of every adult in the United States, and around seventeen percent from two to 19 years old are obese according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Reuters reported.
More than a third of all U.S. adults and nearly 17 percent of children between the ages of 2 and 19 are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"It is misleading to suggest that soft drink consumption is uniquely responsible for weight gain. In fact, only 4 percent of calories in the average American diet are derived directly from soda," CalBev, the California arm of the American Beverage Association, said in a statement Reuters reported.
California barred sodas and unhealthy food from public schools in 2005 in an effort to limit the intake of beverages with lots of calories throughout the country Reuters reported.
