Coca-Cola Video Says Company 'Cares' About Obesity Ben Feuerherd - The Fix
go to original January 19, 2013

At Coca-Cola, we believe when people come together good things happen. (CocaColaCo)

Coca-Cola wants to "play an important role" in fighting obesity, claims a new ad by the world's No. 1 beverage company. "Today, we'd like people to come together on something that concerns all of us: obesity," says the ad. "The long-term health of our families - and the country - is at stake."

Of their more than 650 beverage choices, Coke wants us to know that they now offer over 180 low and no calorie choices, adding: "all calories count, no matter where they come from - including Coca Cola and everything else with calories." But while the company claims to be championing the health of its consumers, not everyone is convinced.

New York Times food columnist Mark Bittman describes http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2013/01/coca-cola-anti-obesity-ad.html the new campaign as "so professional. So brilliant. So smart. And so deceitful."

Bittman points out that 7% of the average American's daily calories come from soda, making it the largest - and most harmful - single source of calories in our diet. "All calories are not the same - those from soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages are actually worse than others," he says. "So it's up to us to remember that Coke makes its money selling sugar-sweetened beverages, and even when they're apologizing for that, as they appear to be doing here - they're still selling them."

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!