What do the beverage companies do to fight back over obesity?

Beverage companies such as Coca-Cola and PepsiCo hire lobbying groups to defend themselves against advertising campaigns linking their products to obesity. Same kinds of campaigns were targeted notably against cigarette companies which were also working closely with lobbying groups to vindicate their products’ bad effects on customers’ health.

Recently the lobbying group which represents beverage companies including PepsiCo and Coca-Cola launched a new campaign arguing that the industry has been offering customers healthier options.

It’s astonishing to see the rival companies in the same sector working together with the same lobbying group when it comes to defend their products causing obesity and health problems.

After several states and cities earlier this year producing ads with graphic imagery of obese people who had lost limbs as a result of diabetes next to two “supersized” cups of cola, the American Beverage Association (ABA) introduced a national advertising push on television, websites and public transport with its “Delivering Choices” campaign.

Karen Hanretty, Vice President of public affairs at the ABA states that there is no direct correlation between soda consumption and obesity. She further claims that if consumption is down and obesity is up, it’s hard to find that intersection.

Drinks groups declare that they have cut calories from their products and offer consumers smaller portions and clearer labels.

According to beverage industry executives if people exercised more, they could drink more soda without worrying about excess calories making them fat.

Apparently beverage companies such as PepsiCo also push their workers and their families to implement “a health-care policy”. PepsiCo has drawn fire from union groups in New York recently over a $50 monthly charge levied on workers who have diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure or asthma, conditions that often lead to being overweight.

It’s obvious that beverage companies expect from their customers and workers who consume their products on the conditions that they either exercise to avoid obesity or pay charges in case of obesity!

Resource of several cities: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/d082ef1e-9634-11e1-9d9d-00144feab49a.html#axzz1uGJmi0eo