![Soft Drinks Excluded from Kids` Meals in Burger King Soft Drinks Excluded from Kids` Meals in Burger King](https://images.medindia.net/health-images/1200_1000/junk-food-memory-loss.jpg)
"We have removed fountain drinks from our kids' menu boards and they are no longer merchandised as part of kids' meals," the company said in a statement.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest, one of a number of groups advocating for healthier diets for children, gave its support to the move by Burger King, which serves some 11 million people a day in 13,000 restaurants and outlets around the world.
"Soda and other sugary drinks promote diabetes, tooth decay, obesity, and even heart disease -- and have no place on menus meant for little kids. We applaud Burger King for taking this responsible step forward, and call upon their franchisees -- who operate independently of the company -- to immediately follow suit."
But another healthy-food advocate, MomsRising, which had also pressed for the menu change, said more restaurants need to follow suit.
"While Burger King is now offering better default beverages, we need more restaurants to do the same because sugar-sweetened beverages uniquely promote heart disease and type 2 diabetes."
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The World Health Organization called last week for a reduction in consumption of sugar added to other foods, particularly beverages.
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"A further reduction to below five percent or roughly 25 grams (six teaspoons) per day would provide additional health benefits," it said.
According to the American Heart Association, Americans consume on average between 22 and 30 teaspoons of sugar a day.
Source-Medindia