Yesterday, First Lady Michelle Obama announced the latest in her efforts to reduce childhood obesity. Working with Subway and the Partnership for a Healthier America, the First Lady aims to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among children.

Our industry recognizes how important these efforts are - and how we accomplish much more by working together on this complex public health challenge.

That's why our member companies have stepped up to be part of meaningful solutions to address childhood obesity. Through ongoing innovation, our member companies provide beverage choices in a range of portion sizes and offer no- and low-calorie options for virtually every brand they make.

They also have voluntarily – and successfully – implemented significant policies, programs and practices to help reverse the childhood obesity trend. Working with the First Lady and the Partnership for a Healthier America, President Clinton and his Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and others, we have changed the school beverage landscape, placed calorie labels on all of our containers, supported community programs that promote balanced diets and physical activity, and much more. These are efforts that have real and lasting impact.

We applaud the First Lady and all who are working together to make things happen!