Nutrition

As the obesity debate rages on, public health advocates are convening the first-ever "National Soda Summit" in honor of New York City's controversial plan to ban large sugary drinks.

The proposed ban, announced last week by Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I), has stirred controversy over how far governments should go to restrict unhealthy options available to consumers and whether ideas like Bloomberg's are effective.

Beginning as early as next March, the city will ban the sale of non-diet sodas and other sugary drinks that are larger than 16 ounces in its restaurants and some other public venues.

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 Walt Disney Company on Tuesday committed to making the "Happiest Place On Earth" a little healthier, crediting first lady Michelle Obama’s anti-obesity work in announcing revisions to nutrition standards at theme parks and resorts nation-wide.

The company will also eliminate advertising for food and beverage items marketed to younger viewers that do not meet new nutrition standards on Disney-owned TV, radio and websites. The Disney/ABC Television Group alone reaches an estimated audience of 99 million.

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed ban on large sodas put big beverage companies back on the defensive.

"Are we going to regulate how many cookies people can buy at the cookie shop," asks Rep. Yvette Clark.

Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), asked Thursday about New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed ban on selling oversized sugary drinks within city limits, laughed and said, "You can't make this stuff up, can you?

"I gave up pop for Lent three years ago and I haven't had any since, but do what you want," Ryan told CNBC, also revealing his Midwestern slang. "Do what you want with your life."

News broke this week that 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 conservatives and especially "Big Gulp" fans, who quickly dubbed the proposal the "Big Gulp ban" on Twitter because 7-Eleven's 32-ounce "Big Gulp" is one of the best-known examples of an oversized cup.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rejected a petition from the beverage industry to relabel high-fructose corn syrup as "corn sugar," drawing praise Thursday from the advocacy group Consumers Union.

The Corn Refiners Association had petitioned the FDA to allow the "corn sugar" moniker on ingredient labels. The food industry uses the term "corn sugar" in television commercials arguing that high-fructose corn syrup is no less healthy than sugarcane.

The FDA rejected that petition Wednesday — just hours before New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed a ban on many soft drinks larger than 16 ounces.

"The FDA did the right thing. High-fructose corn syrup is not 'corn sugar.' If the name had been changed, it would have given consumers the wrong impression that this product is ‘natural,' " said Urvashi Rangan, director of the Consumer Safety Group at Consumer Reports, which is published by Consumers Union.

The food industry and marketers must cooperate on nutrition standards or face federal intervention, an influential health panel warned.

The Senate majority whip has raised concerns energy drinks like Monster Energy, Rockstar and Red Bull might contain more caffeine than young consumers can handle.

In a new interview Michelle Obama defended her “Let’s Move!” anti-obesity program against critics who call it a government intrusion.