The New York Times “Really?” column, part of the “Well” blog, tackles popular health myths on a weekly basis. This week, it covered a myth that we often write about here at Sip & Savor: the false belief promulgated by our critics that sugar-sweetened beverages are the largest contributor of sugar in the diet. New York Times blogger Anahad O’Connor examines data from the CDC and concludes: “The bottom line… Most of the added sugar the average American consumes in a typical day comes from food, not drinks.”

If you are a frequent reader, you know this is not new to us. We’ve been telling our story about the changes to the beverage landscape that our member companies have been driving for years.  Our commitment to providing choices for consumers by offering a wide array of beverages in a range of portion sizes and calorie options can be seen in grocery stores nationwide. We provide calorie information right on the front of every can, pack and bottle we produce so consumers know exactly how many calories are in their favorite beverage before they purchase. And, through innovation we’re creating more low- and no-calorie, great-tasting options – in part, driving a 23 percent decline in the average calories per beverage serving since 1998. In fact, 45 percent of all non-alcoholic beverages purchased today have zero calories.

So, the next time you hear something about our industry or its beverages that leaves you scratching your head, ask yourself – “Really?” and get the facts at LetsClearItUp.org, send us a Tweet, or find us on Facebook.