Feds urged to support reduced soda intake

WASHINGTON, June 12 (UPI) -- The Obama administration should jettison rules that ban U.S. states from using federal money to discourage soda consumption, a health advocacy group says.

Rules adopted during the Bush administration prohibit the use of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funds for disparaging or criticizing any food, the Center for Science in the Public Interest said.

The rules were adopted in 2003 after Maine ran an ad campaign encouraging people to cut back on soda, said Bruce Silverglade, a spokesman for the Washington-based group.

"Soft drinks are the only food or beverage directly linked to obesity," Silverglade said, adding the center wants the Obama administration to support state campaigns aimed at reducing soda consumption and obesity.

The current rules conflict with those published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which advises people to choose a daily beverage containing no more than 8 teaspoons of sugar -- less than the amount of sugar found in a typical 12 ounce can of soda, Silverglade said.