In today’s Metro newspaper in NY there was another amazingly misleading statement made by a so-called expert, Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford. Below is my letter to the editor in response.
Dear Editor: I am writing in response to the opinion article I read in this morning’s Metro by Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford entitled, “One Sweet Reason For A Soda Tax.” Dr. Boufford states, “The beverage industry can play an important role by promoting natural juices and other products that do not contribute to overweight and would not be subject to the tax.” With all due respect to the President of the New York Academy of Medicine, her statement is factually incorrect and she contradicts herself. It is a perfect example of the incredibly misleading information being circulated around the issue of this ill-conceived proposed legislation. Eight ounces of leading traditional soda contains around 95 calories. Eight ounces of our natural and vitamin-fortified soda contains only about 75 calories. All it takes is five minutes on the internet to learn that eight ounces of orange juice contains around 110-120 calories. Apple juice weighs in at around 115 and cranberry juice contains between 120 and 140 calories!
While it is true that the calories in juice are not from “added” sugar, the calories are still there. How the President of the New York Academy of medicine could make such a confusing and inaccurate statement is strange and disappointing to me. It is not, however, surprising. The myopic and obsessive focus on “sugar” and only on sugar in “soda” has been arbitrary and misleading. The proposed tax will charge New Yorkers more for soda with sugar but not tax diet soda, which many (including me) believe is more unhealthy. It will not tax juice, which has even more (not less!) calories. No one is proposing to tax candy or cake that may be loaded with even more calories while having little or no nutritional value. Why?
This tax is about desperately trying to scrounge up money to close a massive budget gap. It is not truly about health. Furthermore, it is confusing and causing a distraction from us having what we really need in America: a more responsible dialogue on obesity and on health in general from a comprehensive and overarching perspective. Let’s at least start by telling consumers the truth.
Yours truly,
Stu Strumwasser
President & CEO
Snow Beverages, Inc.
New York, NY
Cat says:
Hi,
Did you get any response from the newspaper or Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford from the letter you sent?
March 17, 2010, 3:28 pm