Coca-Cola finally came to its own defense, following the barrage of criticism thrown against the beverage giant after the New York Times report that it's funding $1 million for a research that would take the blame away on obesity from soda and sweetened drinks.
In a statement, the Coca-Cola Company admitted of giving the non-profit org, Global Energy Balance Network, because it wants to help the group look for and implement research and science-based "innovative solutions" that would curb obesity and fight diseases linked to it.
In a promotional video, GEBN vice president Steven Blair preached that the claim that sugary drinks cause obesity are totally baseless.
"Most of the focus in the popular media and in the scientific press is, 'Oh they're eating too much, eating too much, eating too much' -- blaming fast food, sugary drinks and so on. And there's really virtually no compelling evidence that that, in fact, is the cause," Blair said.
Dr. Ed Hays, Coca-Cola's technical officer, finds that Coca-Cola has been unfairly portrayed in the media about news came out that it is funding the research. Hays insisted that the company only wants people to learn the truth and that it is not only soda and sweetened beverages alone that cause obesity -- but also the lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle.
"At Coke, we believe a balanced diet and regular exercise are two key ingredients for a healthy lifestyle," Hays said.
Hays also said that Coca-Cola advocates the consumption of products that are enough and suitable to their lifestyle. World soft drinks giant Coca-Cola is funding a research that aims to disprove the claim that sugary drinks are linked to the obesity crisis, rather, it is the lack of exercises that causes people to become obese.
Coke's campaign came under fire from health experts, criticizing the giant firm for misleading the public, calling it a "part of an effort by Coke to deflect criticism about the role sugary drinks have played in the spread of obesity and Type 2 diabetes," according to New York Times.
Since one research after another linked sugary drinks with Type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease and other illnesses, Coca-Cola's sales have slowed down, Huffington Post reports.
With the downsizing of government funds on scientific research, private corporate funding stepped in to finance research, only to benefit the interests of private corporations. Scientific studies on research has reaped the most controversies because of its effect on multi-billion dollar food and beverage sales.
Aside from Coca-Cola, rival firms PepsiCo and Nestle have already backed similar research that also drew criticisms from experts. In 2010, PepsiCo gave Yale University officials $250,000 for a post-doc fellowship in obesity studies at the medical school. The Nestle Research Center, meanwhile, drew the range of critics after it financed a special supplement of Nature magazine in April 2014.
