My name is Ava Mrig, I’m 14 years old a freshman in high school.
And I’ve already started worrying about what’s in the food I eat every day.

Not because I want to. Because I have to.

Like many kids, I grew up loving snacks, cereals, candy, and drinks. But unlike most, I’ve been taught to read food labels, to question what’s inside.

And what I found?
Too much sugar. Everywhere.

Then something changed.

On a recent trip to Australia, I noticed something I didn’t expect.

The food tasted…different. Not bland. Not boring.
Just less sugary, and more real. I could actually taste the flavors of the food; not just sugar.

And something even more surprising happened:

• Within those 10 days, I wasn't craving candy. No constant urge for something sweet.

That made me realize - this isn’t just about willpower. It’s about what we’re being fed.

•  What’s Happening in the United States? Why are kids like me growing up surrounded by:

Hidden sugars in foods that shouldn’t even be sweet
Ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup in everyday products,
Artificial dyes and additives that other countries restrict or ban,
Flavors designed to make us crave more and more and more 
Even the same global brands make healthier versions of their products in other countries.

So why not here?

This Isn’t Just About Candy—But It Starts There
Take Sour Patch Kids. They’re fun. Colorful. Everywhere.

But they’re also:

Packed with sugar in just a few bites
Filled with artificial dyes like Red 40 and Yellow 5
Designed to hook you with that “sour-then-sweet” rush 
And they’re just one example. If this is what we are eating, then what is our brain being trained to crave?

The Truth We Can’t Ignore
In places like Australia and Europe:

• Food isn’t overloaded with sugar
• Additives are more strictly controlled
• Recipes are different, even for the same exact brands
• Same companies. Same products. Different standards.

Why This Matters
This isn’t just about taste.

It’s about:

Kids developing unhealthy habits before they even understand them
Rising rates of obesity and diabetes
A system where profit comes before public health
I shouldn’t have to leave my country to eat food that feels healthier.

What I'm Asking For
We are calling on major food corporations to:

Reduce added sugar in everyday foods
Use the same healthier recipes they use abroad
Remove harmful additives that are banned elsewhere
Be honest and transparent about what’s in our food
 
A Message From Me
I’m just a freshman in high school. But this affects my generation, the generation before me and every generation after me.

We deserve better!!!

We deserve food that doesn’t train us to crave sugar.
We deserve to taste real flavors.
We deserve the same standards as the rest of the world.

 Sign  and Share This Petition
If you believe kids deserve healthier food…
If you believe companies should be held accountable…
If you believe change is possible…