Two very important news to share:
1) This will be Coca-Cola’s last year as a sponsor of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics;
2) Coca-Cola will not exhibit at this year’s conference (FNCE, which begins Sunday).
Here is the email AND sent out to its House of Delegates members yesterday evening:
“We wanted you to be aware that the Coca-Cola Company, in keeping with their commitment to transparency, has recently published new information on their website that includes activities with the Academy and Foundation, as well as other non-profit partners in the health association community.
The following information regarding the support of the Coca-Cola Company over the past few years might be helpful to you, especially if your constituents have questions or concerns:
- Coca-Cola will not be exhibiting at FNCE in Nashville.
- After eight continuous years from 2007 to 2015, The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC)/Beverage Institute for Health & Wellness (BIHW) will retire from the Academy’s sponsorship program at the end of 2015.
- The total financial commitment to the Academy of $2,260,000 and $325,000 to the Foundation was in support of many unique opportunities. Below are a few highlights of the programs their sponsorship made possible:
- The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Heart Truth™ Campaign 2009 – 2011
- National Institutes of Health Red Dress Fashion Show 2011 – 2013
- Delta Sky Magazine Ad 2012
- American Academy of Family Physicians and the Academy Consumer Brochures 2010 – 2011
- Winter 2010 and Summer 2012 Olympic Torch Relay
- Kids Eat Right (KER) Shop Smart- Cook Healthy- Eat Right Electronic Billboards in 43 U.S. markets
- Kids Eat Right logo and link on HealthyChildren.org
- Academy Foundation’s Annual Fund; Kids Eat Right Summit
- Kids Eat Right mini-grants and webinars
- FNCE® Sponsorships for Kids Eat Right Kiosk
- Foundation Donor Reception and Foundation Gala tables
- Energy Balance for Kids in two schools in Kansas City”
We are looking to gather more information on this breaking development (mainly whether it was Coca-Cola or AND that called it quits, although the tone of the email doesn’t suggest AND saw anything wrong with having Coca-Cola as a sponsor).
While a decision by AND would certainly be much more impactful, this nevertheless demonstrates a shift in relationships between industry and health organizations.
As soon as we come across more information, we will share it here.
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