How many calories are in that Coke? Check the front of the can

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The nation’s soft drink companies have promised to prominently display calorie information on the front of their bottles, cans and other containers, a trade group said Tuesday.

‘By putting the calories on the front of beverages, we’re making it easier for consumers to make informed choices,’ said Susan K. Neely, president and CEO of the American Beverage Assn. ‘It’s one more way that America’s beverage companies are doing their part to help people achieve a healthy weight by balancing their diet and physical activity.’

The complete number of calories in any soda containing 20 ounces or fewer will be displayed prominently on the label, the association said in a statement. But watch out for juices and so-called ‘juice drinks.’ They will only display calories for an 8-ounce serving. Which means you will have to do the math. Because that Tropicana Strawberry Kiwi Twister? It may have 120 calories per 8-ounce serving, but that whole 20-ounce bottle you just bought? It has 300 calories. And 73 grams of sugar.

Some beverage companies have already started putting the information on containers, and others have promised to do so by the end of the year. The company that makes Dr. Pepper and Snapple drinks said Tuesday that it would add the information to the front of its labels in the coming months.

-- Sharon Bernstein