Coca-Cola and PepsiCo funded over 100 health organizations between 2011-2015 according to a new investigation by Boston University researchers.
More shockingly, the study showed that the two major soda companies fought against at least 28 bills during this period that were written to lower soda consumption and to improve the American diet.
“The soda companies can neutralize potential legislative opposition by invoking reciprocity and financial dependence from national health organizations,” wrote said lead author Daniel Aaron, a medical student at the BU School of Medicine. “Rather than supporting public health, organizations may become unwitting partners in a corporate marketing strategy that undermines public health.”
The researchers believe that big drink companies are trying to stop efforts to make Americans healthier, and are urging health organizations to refuse funding from such companies.
The research team looked at data showing which organizations received funding from big drink companies and which health bills the companies campaigned against.
Very surprisingly, the sponsorships even included two major diabetes organizations — the American Diabetes Association and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. This baffled the researchers, especially because of the “given the established link between diabetes and soda consumption.”
The researchers compared the ties between soda companies and health organizations to corporate sponsorships of alcohol and tobacco companies.
“Previous studies of alcohol company sponsorship and tobacco sponsorship suggest that corporate philanthropy is a marketing tool that can be used to silence health organizations that might otherwise lobby and support public health measures against these industries,” said Michael Siegel, MD, professor of community health sciences at the School of Public Health and co-author of the study.
Although soda consumption is at its lowest in the U.S. in 30 years, obesity rates are still very much on the rise. The World Obesity Federation released a new report showing that if the government doesn’t take serious action, obesity rates are to rise dramatically by 2025.
We are hoping that health organizations stop taking money from big soda companies. Thanks to Boston University Health Center for the eye-opening research.
The study showing that Coca-Cola and PepsiCo funded over 100 health organizations was published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
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Discover the link between soda and diabetes.
U.S. soda consumption lowest in 30 years.
Obesity rates are to rise dramatically by 2025.
REFERENCES:
1. “Consumption of Sugar Sweetened Beverages, Artificially Sweetened Beverages, and Fruit Juice and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes: Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, and Estimation of Population Attributable Fraction.” BMJ. BMJ, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
2. “Soda Consumption Falls to 30-Year Low In The U.S.” Fortune. N.p., 28 Mar. 2016. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
3. “Obesity Rates Will Soar by 2025 If Governments Fail to Take Action, Says Report.” Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
4. “How Will the World Health Assembly Meet Its 2025 Targets?” World Obesity Federation. World Obesity Federation, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
5. “Coca-Cola, PepsiCo Funded Almost 100 Health Organizations over 5 Years.” Medical News Today. MediLexicon International, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
6. “BU Study Probes Soda Company Sponsorship of Health Groups.” EurekAlert! Boston University Medical Center, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
7. “Sponsorship of National Health Organizations by Two Major Soda Companies.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, n.d. Web. 12 Oct. 2016.
