PepsiCo plans to remove sugary drinks from schools by 2012

The soft drinks company will work with its bottlers, vending companies and third-party distributors -- in collaboration with parents, community leaders and schools officials around the world -- to offer low-calorie beverages for schools. PepsiCo chairman and chief executive officer Indra Nooyi said: "We have long advocated for school settings to be made as conducive as possible to promoting the health of students, and we have programs under way with school authorities in several countries to do that. "This includes restoring or expanding physical education and promoting nutrition education. This global policy will serve as an important part of that mission, by expanding our offerings of low-calorie and nutritious beverages." Pekka Puska, president of the World Heart Federation, added: "The World Heart Federation welcomes PepsiCo's announcement that it will launch a new policy on stopping the sale of sugary beverages to schools globally. "The soft drinks industry has voluntarily removed full-calorie carbonated beverages from schools in certain countries. The World Heart Federation has been leading discussions with industry for such a policy at a global level and is pleased that PepsiCo is leading the way within the beverage industry."