National Alliance for Hispanic Health Leads Diverse “Friends of the Court” in Support of NYC Policy to Reduce Sugary Drink Portion Size

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National Alliance for Hispanic Health

Apr 28, 2014, 14:50 ET

Washington, DC (PRWEB) April 28, 2014 -- “The beverage industry has pursued a strategy of legal obstruction and put profits over the health of its customers,” said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation’s leading science-based advocate for Hispanic health.

Today, the Alliance along with a diverse group of partners filed an amicus brief with the New York Court of Appeals in support of the NYC Board of Health policy on sugar-sweetened beverages. The brief cites scientific literature on the contribution of sugary drinks to obesity and chronic disease such as diabetes, targeted marketing to youth and racial and ethnic groups, and the role of reduction of sugary drink consumption through smaller serving sizes as part of a strategy for improved community health.

According to Delgado, setting the default serving size of sweetened beverages to 16 ounces or less “is a modest and reasonable policy that deserves to be implemented and evaluated. It could save lives and decrease the burden of disease, including type 2 diabetes that affects one in 10 adults in New York City.”

“We are proud to be on the right side of this issue for the health of all communities and families. The NYC Board of Health policy on sugar-sweetened beverages is a common sense approach to promote healthier environments for all New Yorkers and will serve as a model for the nation,” concluded Dr. Delgado.

(Court of document NEW YORK COUNTY Index No. 653584/12)

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The National Alliance for Hispanic Health is the nation's foremost science-based source of information and trusted non-partisan advocate for the best health outcomes for all. The Alliance represents thousands of Hispanic health providers across the nation providing services to more than 15 million each year. For more information, visit http://www.hispanichealth.org, call the Alliance’s Su Familia Helpline at 1-866-783-2645, or find us on Facebook at healthyamericas or on Twitter at health4americas.

Adolph Falcon, National Alliance for Hispanic Health, +1 202-797-4341, [email protected]