Bigger is better in NYC – except for soft drinks

Coca-Cola has reacted angrily to a proposed limit on soft drink sales in New York that would reclassify a small McDonald's drink as large, in a measure to fight obesity.

Michael Bloomberg, the Mayor, has proposed amending the city's health code to ban the sale of soft drinks in cups larger than 16oz (455ml), a size that McDonald's calls small. The chain's medium is 21oz, and its large is 32oz.

"You can still be a beast. We're not keeping you from eating fattening foods or drinking 32oz bottles of full-sugar drinks," Mr Bloomberg said. "We are just telling you that this is detrimental to your health and making you understand that by portion size."

But Coca-Cola said: "New Yorkers expect and deserve better than this. They can make their own choices about the beverages they purchase."

AP