George Hacker, senior policy advisor at The Center for Science in the Public Interest, explained that, “Up to half of the extra calories people are eating today compared to the 1970s are from soda [soft drinks].” This is because the soft drink industry has expanded its market niche. Where it was historically considered a treat to be consumed once or twice a week, it has become a daily habit for so many around the globe. The soda industry also aggressively targets children and poor communities with its advertisements. (Though this is hopefully falling out of fashion, if other big players follow Disney’s recent plan taking ads for junk food off its children’s programming.) Studies have indeed found a link between sugary drinks and childhood obesity to the point where a contingent of US national and local health, medical and consumer organizations, municipal public health departments, and several prominent individuals are calling on the country’s Surgeon General to issue a report on the health effects of soda and other sugary drinks. Their hope is that such a report will have a similar impact as the 1964 landmark Surgeon General’s report on tobacco use, and bring authoritatively to light the public health impact of these types of drinks. What is the author’s main claim in the passage?
A Sugary drinks are being over-consumed.
B Big companies are targeting children.
C Soda is very damaging to your health.
D All junk food should be banned in the US.
Which detail from the passage best communicates the author’s main claim?
A Their hope is that such a report will have a similar impact as the 1964 landmark Surgeon General’s report on tobacco use
B Studies have indeed found a link between sugary drinks and childhood obesity
C Where it was historically considered as a treat to be consumed once or twice a week, it has become a daily habit for so many around the globe.
D The soda industry also aggressively targets children and poor communities with its advertisements.