How ironic is this? This makes the researchers of the new study question the actions of the companies as well as the health groups.
Soda beverages are quite popular in the United States. This may be why this poses a serious and rampant problem where obesity is concerned. In addition to that, there are issues related to major diseases like diabetes and heart conditions.
That’s why it came as a shock when research investigators found that there were some health organizations who accepted money from soda companies from 2011-2015.
Time.com shares how the story came about. The study, which was released in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, reported that ninety-six national health organizations received money from Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, or both companies.
The researchers from Boston University School of Medicine found the health groups included were American Diabetes Association, the National Institutes of Health, the American Red Cross, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and so on.
Soda Companies Fund 96 Health Groups In the U.S.
Despite the fact that America has a severe obesity problem, fueled in part by the overconsumption of sugar, several have accepted money from soda companies in recent years. Read more…
Jacqueline Howard from CNN says that the researchers did Internet and database searches for public records which in turn led to the discovery that there were sponsorships of health organizations from these soda giants.
Siegel said that they focused on Coca-Cola and PepsiCo because these are the two top companies in the country. They wanted to look into the details of the sponsorship activities of these companies. This is when the found that they supported health organizations, some had missions to find a solution to obesity or help promote good nutrition.
Paper Reveals Soda’s Controversial Relationship With Health Groups
Siegel and Daniel Aaron, a medical student at the Boston University School of Medicine, conducted Internet and database searches for public records indicating the sponsorships of public health groups and lobbying expenditures of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo… Read more…
Maggie Fox from NBCNews.com reported that the American Beverage Association spoke about the issue saying that they’re contributing to addressing immediate concerns about the challenges related to obesity. “We stand strongly for our need, and right, to partner with organizations that strengthen our communities.”
It was noted that there were some groups that cut ties with the soda companies. These are the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Academy of Pediatrics.
The American Heart Association confirmed that they were not influenced by any donations. The organization said that they are promoting efforts for increasing taxes on sugary drinks, removing drinks from children’s meals, and making policies about access to safe drinking water.
Have Soda Company Donations Influenced Health Groups?
Philadelphia passed a sugary drink tax in June and other cities are discussing the possibility. Studies show taxes can reduce consumption of bad-for-you products such as sweet drinks and tobacco.
Added sugar in the diet is very clearly linked to obesity, heart disease, diabetes and cancer. But the sugar industry has thrown up a range of arguments against any legislation that might cut consumption, from consumer freedom and choice to debates over what “sugar” means. Read more…
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