Coke, Pepsi and Dr Pepper said Tuesday they'll work to reduce the calories Americans get from beverages by 20 percent over the next decade by more aggressively marketing smaller sizes, bottled water and diet drinks. The announcement was made at the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City and comes as the country's three biggest soda makers face pressure over the role of sugary drinks in fueling obesity rates.
People have been moving away from soda on their own for several years. In response, Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. have been pushing smaller cans and bottles, which tend to be more profitable and are positioned as a way to control portions. They've also rolled out flavored versions of Dasani and Aquafina, respectively, as demand for bottled water has grown. The pledge follows an agreement between the American Beverage Association, an industry trade group, and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation. The two groups partnered on a separate initiative to reduce beverage calories in schools in 2006.
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-- The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
