It’s always important to keep an eye on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ partners, especially the messages they convey in the media.
Consider, for instance, the recent statements by Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent. As this Marketplace Business piece points out:
“Kent doesn’t believe Coca-Cola and other soda brands are at fault for the obesity problem plaguing America. Coca-Cola makes far more than just cola, or sodas for that matter.
“We used to be a one product company. Now we have 500 brands, 3,000 products. We are the largest manufacturer of juices in the world. We own the largest citrus plantations around the world. We have actually provided tremendous amount of choice to people,” he says.
Someone trying to make healthy choices could purchase an Odwalla orange juice, or Dasani bottled water, and still be funding Coca-Cola.
“We have products with calories. We have products without calories.”
This, of course, is the tried-and-true faulty rhetoric Big Soda always trots out. What is always conveniently left out is that the majority of Coca-Cola’s budget goes toward marketing its caloric and sugary products. Besides — this healthwashed notion that fruit juice is a better choice is also misguided and misleading.
For example — 12 ounces of Odwalla orange juice pack in almost 38 grams of sugar. In that sense, it’s no different than 12 ounces of soda.
The article also touches on Mr. Kent’s assertion that Coca-Cola is “providing a huge service to humanity” by selling bottled water in impoverished African nations.
Leave a Comment