WASHINGTON – American Beverage issued the following statement on today’s hearing before the House Appropriations Subcommittee for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration regarding SNAP benefits: 

“We know many Americans are looking to reduce sugar in their diets. That’s why America’s leading beverage companies are innovating and marketing more choices with less sugar and clear nutritional information so Americans can choose what’s right for them. This approach is working — nearly 60% of all beverages sold today are zero sugar. 

“Limiting choice by restricting SNAP purchases is a slippery slope that won’t make Americans healthier. It is government overreach that takes away choice from families in need while defining ‘good’ and ‘bad’ food in the grocery aisle. Americans receiving SNAP benefits should be able to make the same buying decisions we all do and deserve the same choices.” 

Background: 

• Beverages are not driving obesity rates. The latest data shows that adult obesity rates have increased even as soda consumption decreased. If the two were connected, obesity rates should have decreased with the decline in soda consumption. 
• America’s leading beverage companies launched the Balance Calories Initiative in 2014 to support families in their efforts to reduce sugar in the diet by offering more choices with less sugar and smaller package sizes.  
  • Since 2014, no- and low-calorie beverage sales have grown from 51.6% of total sales to 60.2% in 2022, and containers smaller than 11 ounces grew almost threefold.  
  • At the same time, per person sales of full-calorie carbonated soft drinks fell by 8.5%. This aligns with an overall decline of 19.2% over more than two decades (2000-2022). 
• There are no major differences between SNAP and non-SNAP spending. USDA data shows SNAP households spent 5 cents on the dollar on carbonated soft drinks while non-SNAP households spent 4 cents on the dollar. 
• A USDA analysis shows that combined sugar-sweetened beverages account for only 5.96% of calories in the average diet. This means the vast majority (94%) of our calories come from other sources.  

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