U.S. school sales of sugary drinks to end

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NEW YORK, May 3 (UPI) -- Sales of sugary, high-calorie drinks in U.S. schools will end in favor of water, juice and low-fat milk, the beverage industry announced Wednesday.

Jay Carson, a spokesman for former President Bill Clinton, whose William J. Clinton Foundation was one of the brokers, said Cadbury Schweppes PLC, Coca-Cola Co., PepsiCo Inc. and the American Beverage Association have signed onto the deal.

The agreement sets different rules for elementary, middle and high schools, The Washington Post reported.

The agreement calls for eliminating vending machine sales of sodas, diet sodas, sports drinks, juice drinks, apple juice or grape juice in elementary schools. Water and more healthful juices such as orange juice could continue to be sold, but only in 8-ounce or smaller containers.

Nearly 35 million students will be affected by the deal, The Alliance for a Healthier Generation said in a news release. The group is a collaboration between Clinton's foundation and the American Heart Association.