Michelle Obama isn't 'endorsing or condemning' NYC Mayor Bloomberg's proposed soda ban

First lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday said she “applauds” local leaders for confronting the growing risk of obesity, but stopped short of endorsing a controversial proposed ban of sugary drinks sold in quantities higher than 16 ounces in restaurants and public venues within New York City.

Obama “applauds anyone who's stepping up to think about what changes work in their communities," The Associated Press reported, following an interview with the first lady.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently proposed a controversial ban of sugary drinks sold in quantities higher than 16 ounces in restaurants and public venues within the city, and Obama might seem a natural ally due to her work on anti-obesity causes. But Kristina Schake, the first lady's communications director, said that Obama does not advocate Bloomberg's specific solution.

"The first lady wasn’t weighing in on this specific policy debate one way or the other," Schake said in a statement provided to The Hill. "She was trying to make the point that every community is different and every solution is different and that she applauds local leaders including mayors, business leaders, parents etc. who are taking this issue seriously and working towards solving this problem. But this is not something the administration is pursuing at a federal level and not something the first lady is specifically endorsing or condemning."

Bloomberg plans next month to propose a restriction on sales of soft drinks more than 16 ounces in size by restaurants, movie theaters, stadiums and arenas in New York City. The news was met with scorn by Republicans, including House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and others who accused Bloomberg of implementing a "nanny state."

Bloomberg has defended the ban as an effort to fight obesity, a cause Obama also advocates with her Let’s Move! initiative to fight childhood obesity.

"We're not taking away anybody's right to do things, we're simply forcing you to understand that you have to make the conscious decision to go from one cup to another cup," Bloomberg told MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell last week.

Let’s Move! encourages private companies along with public schools and communities to implement healthier standards and provide opportunities to exercise. The first lady has faced criticism similar to Bloomberg over her advocacy for policy changes in cities and schools, but argues that she is not looking to implement a “one size fits all” strategy at the federal level.

“Let’s Move! is not about having government tell people what to do, because government doesn't have all the answers,” she has said, defending the initiative for providing “tools” to support parents in making healthy decisions for their children. 

—This story was originally posted at 3:28 p.m. and has been updated.

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