As part of the final examination of the health bill, the deputies voted in favor of an amendment stipulating that “the provision in self-service, paid or not, of fountains offering drinks with added sugars or synthetic sweeteners is prohibited in all places open to the public or open to the public”.
“Water is the only essential drink”, note the elected officials. “It is the role of the law to establish a framework to protect the population against a commercial escalation which tends to make the free food offer an argument to attract the consumer and incite him to certain excessive and harmful consumptions for health,” they insist.
Very widespread in the United States, the practice of “unlimited” or “free refill” obviously does not encourage moderation. In France, there are soda fountains in the cafeterias of the Swedish furniture giant but also in fast food restaurants like KFC or Quick.
Favorable to the amendment, the Minister of Health Marisol Touraine observed that this “practice, which was usual in other countries, is spreading in our country and can be attractive to young people who are offered unlimited drinks containing either excessive sugar or sweeteners”.
The list of categories of beverages whose provision is prohibited will be set by ministerial order.
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