As we were doing field research on what was offered in vending machines in middle and high schools in Walnut Creek, CA, we discovered, among other things: Tropicana flavored juice drinks (68g sugars per 20oz bottle) at the high school -clearly not allowed under SB 965 from July 2009 on- and Glaceau Vitamin waters at the middle school. We proceeded to send e-mails to the principals of both schools to have them remove those beverages from their campuses. While we have yet to receive the high school principal’ s response, we got a reply from the middle school principal.
It stated that "SB 965 allows the sale of “electrolyte replacement beverages” to our age group. Beverages in this category may contain no more than 42 grams of added sweetener per 20-ounce serving."
We checked, and indeed, these types of beverages are the only drinks with added sugars allowed in middle and high schools in California.
Which raises this question:
Is there any legal definition for electrolyte replacement beverages?
Indeed, looking at the nutrition facts of the bottle of FOCUS Vitamin Water, there is no trace of sodium, no mention of potassium, magnesium or calcium, although these last 3 electrolytes are mentioned in the ingredient list. We also read that the first ingredient is deionized water, which means that it has been stripped of minerals/electrolytes.
Besides, we see that ingredient #2 is fructose. In the link below, a study on exercise and fluid replacement,
http://www.acsm-msse.org/pt/pt-core/template-journal/msse/media/0196.htm
we single out the following statement:
“fructose should not be the predominant carbohydrate because it is converted slowly to blood glucose not readily oxidized (41,42)
which does not improve performance (8). Furthermore, fructose may cause gastrointestinal distress (59).”
So, officially, Vitamin Waters are allowed in our middle schools on the grounds that they are considered “Electrolyte Replacement Beverages”
even though they have no visible electrolytes on their nutrition facts panels, and the wrong type of carbs is used.
One thing is certain: Our young adolescents get 32.5g sugars per bottle -We had to do the maths-, and they do not get the hours of
intense physical activity that would justify such a replacement drink either.”
Mr Harold Goldstein referred us to Paul Dantzig at the California State Board of Education, who had Phyllis Bramson-Paul reply:
“First, we are in the midst of proposing regulations to further define and clarify areas within the two laws, Senate Bills 12 and 965. As your research has revealed, for example, there is no definition for an Electrolyte Replacement Beverage (ERB) in the law.”
So , until November 20th, we have a chance to help define the only category of beverages containing added sugars allowed in our schools. Please help prevent any sweetened “enhanced waters” or other so-called “functional beverages” call themselves ERBs, and be allowed in our public education places! You may click on the following link: http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/lr/rr/FoodandBeverages.asp, and e-mail your comments to: mailto:hregcomments@cde.ca.gov by November 20th.
P.S. Our guest speaker from yesterday's Sugar show, Dr. Rob Lustig, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at UCSF Division of Pediatric Endocrinology made the following comment:
"Fructose can be converted by the liver to glycogen through a back-door pathway; so a fructose-containing sports drink can replete hepatic glycogen stores once they are depleted by exercise. This is how the sports-drink companies deflect criticism. But if you don’t have depleted glycogen stores (as in no exercise, which is really who drinks these), then all the fructose gets converted to acyl-CoA, which get packaged into VLDL, causing dyslipidemia.
The electrolytes in vitamin water are useless."
It stated that "SB 965 allows the sale of “electrolyte replacement beverages” to our age group. Beverages in this category may contain no more than 42 grams of added sweetener per 20-ounce serving."
We checked, and indeed, these types of beverages are the only drinks with added sugars allowed in middle and high schools in California.
Which raises this question:
Is there any legal definition for electrolyte replacement beverages?
Indeed, looking at the nutrition facts of the bottle of FOCUS Vitamin Water, there is no trace of sodium, no mention of potassium, magnesium or calcium, although these last 3 electrolytes are mentioned in the ingredient list. We also read that the first ingredient is deionized water, which means that it has been stripped of minerals/electrolytes.
Besides, we see that ingredient #2 is fructose. In the link below, a study on exercise and fluid replacement,
http://www.acsm-msse.org/pt/pt-core/template-journal/msse/media/0196.htm
we single out the following statement:
“fructose should not be the predominant carbohydrate because it is converted slowly to blood glucose not readily oxidized (41,42)
which does not improve performance (8). Furthermore, fructose may cause gastrointestinal distress (59).”
So, officially, Vitamin Waters are allowed in our middle schools on the grounds that they are considered “Electrolyte Replacement Beverages”
even though they have no visible electrolytes on their nutrition facts panels, and the wrong type of carbs is used.
One thing is certain: Our young adolescents get 32.5g sugars per bottle -We had to do the maths-, and they do not get the hours of
intense physical activity that would justify such a replacement drink either.”
Mr Harold Goldstein referred us to Paul Dantzig at the California State Board of Education, who had Phyllis Bramson-Paul reply:
“First, we are in the midst of proposing regulations to further define and clarify areas within the two laws, Senate Bills 12 and 965. As your research has revealed, for example, there is no definition for an Electrolyte Replacement Beverage (ERB) in the law.”
So , until November 20th, we have a chance to help define the only category of beverages containing added sugars allowed in our schools. Please help prevent any sweetened “enhanced waters” or other so-called “functional beverages” call themselves ERBs, and be allowed in our public education places! You may click on the following link: http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/lr/rr/FoodandBeverages.asp, and e-mail your comments to: mailto:hregcomments@cde.ca.gov by November 20th.
P.S. Our guest speaker from yesterday's Sugar show, Dr. Rob Lustig, Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at UCSF Division of Pediatric Endocrinology made the following comment:
"Fructose can be converted by the liver to glycogen through a back-door pathway; so a fructose-containing sports drink can replete hepatic glycogen stores once they are depleted by exercise. This is how the sports-drink companies deflect criticism. But if you don’t have depleted glycogen stores (as in no exercise, which is really who drinks these), then all the fructose gets converted to acyl-CoA, which get packaged into VLDL, causing dyslipidemia.
The electrolytes in vitamin water are useless."
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