Morgan Hill Unified School District became the first school district to officially show its support for Senator Bill Monning’s legislation that would require a warning label on sugar-sweetened beverages sold in California, according to Superintendent Steve Betando.
The Board of Education unanimously voted 7-0 to approve a resolution known as Senate Bill 203, signifying that support at the April 21 school board meeting.
“California consumers have a right to know about the unique health problems associated with soda and other sugary drinks,” wrote Betando in a letter addressed to Monning. “SB 203 is a common sense approach to providing that vital science-based information.”
On Feb. 11, Monning introduced the bill that would require a warning label be placed on the front of containers or at the point of purchase for beverages with added sweeteners that have 75 or more calories per 12 ounces. Beverages included on that list would be sodas, sweet teas, sports drinks, and energy drinks. The label would read: “STATE OF CALIFORNIA SAFETY WARNING: Drinking beverages with added sugar(s) contributes to obesity, diabetes, and tooth decay.”
Monning had introduced a similar bill (SB1000) last year. That legislation passed California’s State Senate but fell short in the Assembly Health Committee.
“This is a really important resolution because this is going through the (legislative) process now and, hopefully, will be passed,” said Betando at Tuesday’s board meeting prior to the board’s vote of approval.
Once a bill is introduced, it then goes before a specialized committee for review and vote. Then, the Senate and House of Representatives debate its merits and vote on the bill. Finally, the governor must approve and sign the bill to make it a state law.
MHUSD’s resolution states that “it is critical that the Board of Education of the Morgan Hill Unified School District supports this legislation for the sake of public health and education.”
According to the fact sheet for SB 203, an estimated 14 percent of Californians have diabetes today, having nearly tripled over the past thirty years as sugary drink consumption doubled. In just the past decade, pre-diabetes in U.S. teens more than doubled from 9 to 23 percent.
SB 203 is co-sponsored by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, Health Officers Association of California, California Black Health Network and Latino Health Access.
“Senate Bill 203 is a major step forward in the fight against California’s obesity and diabetes epidemic,” Betando wrote in his letter. “It will protect consumers and promote informed purchasing decisions by requiring a warning label about the harmful effects of consumption of drink with added sugars.”
