Pepsi: No more sugar drinks in schools

PURCHASE, N.Y., March 16 (UPI) -- Expanding its U.S. policy, PepsiCo says it will voluntarily stop selling full-sugar soft drinks to primary and secondary schools around the world by 2012.

The details of this global approach were drawn up after discussions in Geneva with a nongovernmental organization called the World Heart Federation, recognized by the World Health Organization, PepsiCo said Tuesday in a release.

"We have long advocated for school settings to be made as conducive as possible to promoting the health of students, and we have programs under way with school authorities in several countries to do that," said PepsiCo Chairwoman and CEO Indra Nooyi.

"This includes restoring or expanding physical education and promoting nutrition education. This global policy will serve as an important part of that mission, by expanding our offerings of low-calorie and nutritious beverages."

The release said PepsiCo worked with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation -- a joint initiative of the William J. Clinton Foundation, the American Heart Association and other beverage industry leaders -- to alter the mix of beverages in U.S. schools through voluntary guidelines.

The guidelines disallow the sale of full-sugar soft drinks to students in elementary and secondary schools, permitting only sports drinks and waters, low-calorie drinks and portion-controlled juices, the release said.

There was no mention of milk.