Not Just Soda: Bloomberg May Ban Large Popcorn, Milk Drinks, Too

The New York City Board of Health decided Tuesday to proceed with formalizing Mayor Michael Bloomberg's large soda ban, but it is also considering limiting the size of movie-theater popcorns and beverages containing milk.

The board, which must approve the ban, met in Queens on Tuesday and indicated support for the proposal. It agreed to a six-week public comment period before deciding on the large soda ban, according to MyFoxNY.com.

However, some board members are hoping that other high-calorie foods become targets - specifically the large popcorns served in movie theaters, milkshakes, and coffee beverages with milk.

The popcorn isn't a whole lot better than the soda, board member Bruce Vladeck said.

And according to another board member, Dr. Joel Forman, There are certainly milkshakes and milk-coffee beverages that have monstrous amounts of calories.

Bloomberg is hoping that the proposed soda ban will stem the growing rate of obesity in New York. Some 58 percent of adults in New York City are either overweight or obese. Almost 40 percent of public school students in grades K-8 are on the same path. Should the proposal become mandate, Yankees fans and restaurant patrons will see their beverage containers reduced to 16-fluid ounces. To get soda and other sugar-filled drinks in larger container New Yorkers will have to go to the supermarket or a bodega.

Bloomberg's proposal exempts diet sodas, fruit juices, dairy-based beverages and alcohol. Food establishments failing to downsize will be fined $200.

The proposal has been getting strong opposition from the New York City Restaurant Association, which said Bloomberg is unfairly singling out soda. Its spokesman Stefan Friedman said it's time for serious health professionals to move on and seek solutions that are going to actually curb obesity.

Beverage company Coca Cola has also said it has been transparent with its customers by placing the calorie count on its bottles and cans. The company has said it hopes New Yorkers will voice concern over Bloomberg's mandate.

New York City voters oppose 51 to 46 percent the proposed large-soda ban, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.

Researchers found that 55 to 41 percent of men were in opposition, while women supported it 50 to 47 percent.

Is he your mayor or your nanny? New Yorkers are not swallowing Mayor Michael Bloomberg's proposed curb on big buckets of soda. But - wait just a minute - they are evenly divided on whether it amounts to 'Nanny Government,' said Maurice Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute, in a press release. Anyhow, they doubt that a soda ban would do much to slim down public obesity.

What do you think of Bloomberg's large soda ban and the health board's considering limiting the size of movie theater popcorn and milk beverages? Let us know in the box below.