58% fewer beverage calories shipped to schools across USA

A report released today by the American Beverage Association shows that 58% fewer beverage calories have been shipped to schools across the United States. The School Beverage Guidelines Progress Report tracks the progress of the landmark agreement between the beverage industry and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation (a joint initiative of the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation).

Former President Bill Clinton, founder of the William J. Clinton Foundation, along with Dr. Tim Gardner, President of the American Heart Association, and Susan Neely, President and CEO of the American Beverage Association, announced this tremendous shift in the amount of beverage calories available to students in schools.

In May 2006, leading members of the beverage industry and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation announced a voluntary agreement to phase out the sale of full-calorie carbonated soft drinks in America's schools and to accelerate the shift to lower-calorie and more nutritious beverages. The report measures the volumes of different products sold in schools at the elementary, middle and high school levels, and the percent of school contracts complying with the voluntary agreement.

The Report’s key findings include:
- School contracts have exceeded their benchmark goal. The industry has surpassed the 2008 goal of 75% of schools under contract in compliance with the guidelines. The Report shows 79% compliance in schools across the United States.
- The school beverage landscape has changed. The number of shipments of full-calorie carbonated soft drinks to schools was 65% lower during the 2007-08 school year than it was in 2004, before the voluntary agreement went into effect.
- Calories are coming out of the schools. The major shift away from full-calorie carbonated soft drinks resulted in a 58% decrease in total beverage calories shipped to schools between 2004 and the 2007-08 school year.

Q&A: School Beverage Guidelines Progress Report Release - September 10, 2008

To read the American Beverage Association press release, go to http://www.ameribev.org/news-detail/index.aspx?nid=165

To read the full progress report, go to http://www.schoolbeverages.com/.