Leading beverage companies set goal to reduce calories by 20 percentThrough the use of a two-pronged approach, America’s leading beverage companies have pledged to reduce beverage calories consumed per person nationally by 20 by 2025.

 “I am excited about the potential of this voluntary commitment by the beverage industry. It can be a critical step in our ongoing fight against obesity,” said Bill Clinton, former US president who announced the goal as part of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Commitment at the CGI annual meeting in New York.

The Clinton Foundation along with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association, worked with representatives from the American Beverage Association, The Coca-Cola Company, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and PepsiCo to form the new landmark agreement to decrease beverage calories in the American diet.

In the two-headed approach, beverage companies will work on a national initiative to leverage their marketing, innovation and distribution strength to maintain customer interest and promote access to lower-calorie beverages; as well as a community initiative where each company will commit to focus efforts in communities where there is less interest or access to options that help reduce calories.