Mayor Bloomberg, along with Governor Patterson unveiled an ambitious initiative last week to exclude sugar-sweetened beverages, the largest single contributor to the obesity epidemic, from the list of allowable purchases through the nation’s food stamp program.

More than 1.7 million people in New York City receive food stamps. Data from the Agriculture Department show that sugary drinks account for about 6 percent of food stamp use across the country. In New York City that would translate to $75 million or more of subsidized sugary drinks a year.

Aggressive Anti-Obesity Campaign Kicks Sodas to the Curb