American Dietetic Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and Other Health Groups Have Compromised Their Integrity by Accepting Big Food Money

By Partnering With These Corporations, Health Groups Are Actually Working Against the Public's Health

The American Academy of Pediatrics is publicly stating that the Coca-Cola Company is committed "to better the health of children worldwide."

The American Dietetic Association publicly states that the Coca-Cola Company shares its position and policies.

Let's now examine each of these two statements.

The Rest of the Story

1. The American Academy of Pediatrics

Let's examine what it means when the American Academy of Pediatrics states that Coca-Cola is a leader in the movement to improve the health of children worldwide.

What it means is that to improve the health of children worldwide, you can do the following things:

• oppose bills in almost every state to restrict the sale of soda and junk food in schools;
• oppose bills in almost every state to set school nutrition standards;
• send lobbyists to almost every state to defeat or weaken legislation to improve child nutrition; and
• deny the scientific evidence that soda contributes to obesity.

In her book, "Appetite for Profit: How the Food Industry Undermines Our Health and How to Fight Back," Michele Simon examines Coca-Cola's record with respect to supporting public health measures, many of which were supported by the American Academy of Pediatrics. What Simon finds is alarming. Coca-Cola has actively opposed almost every public health measure to improve the nutrition of children, both through its own directly lobbying and through its support of lobbying groups, such as the Grocery Manufacturer's Association (GMA).

Simon writes (page 223): "The GMA is on record as opposing virtually every state bill across the nation that would restrict the sale of junk food or soda in schools. A search for the word "schools" on the GMA Web site resulted in no fewer than 126 hits, most of which are either submitted testimony or a letter filed in opposition to a school-related nutrition policy. Here are just a few examples of document titles: GMA Letter in Opposition of Texas Food and Beverage Restrictions, GMA Letter in Opposition to Oregon School Restrictions Bill, GMA Requests Veto of Kentucky School Restrictions Bill, and GMA Letter in Opposition to California School Nutrition Bill."

Simon continues (page 222-224): "GMA does more than just write letters; the group also has resources to send lobbyists to every state capital in the nation to defeat or weaken legislation. This high-powered lobbying campaign is quite effective. For example, in 2004, GMA helped defeat a California bill that would have set nutrition standards on school food. At every step along the way, the GMA and its member companies have beat nutrition advocates back because they have more lobbying resources, not to mention money to offer politicians in the form of campaign contributions."

Simon concludes (page 224) that "the soda industry is well represented by high-powered lobbyists and regional bottling associations. When it comes to school nutrition, the one company that emerges as the worst corporate actor is Coca-Cola. While other companies also lobby, Coca-Cola puts up the biggest fight and in the nastiest ways. The general rule of thumb that companies like to leave the dirty work to trade groups does not seem to apply to Coke's lobbyists."

Simon's book also reveals that the soft drink industry lobbies against public health legislation deceptively, without even disclosing their affiliation, and that soft drink lobbyists often refute scientific data which clearly show an association between soda consumption and obesity. She writes (page 225): "The soda industry also sent paid consultants to testify at hearings on Philadelphia's districtwide policy without revealing their affiliation. These experts presented industry-sponsored data to show that soda does not cause obesity."

Perhaps most troubling, Simon reveals that Coca-Cola has contributed money which went towards personal attacks against nutrition advocates. Some attacks were horrific, even going to the point of making homophobic statements (page 226).

Why is the American Academy of Pediatrics arguing that the company which is doing all of these things to oppose the protection of the public's health is committed "to better the health of children worldwide"? Why would the American Academy of Pediatrics choose to partner with this company?

Moreover, by touting Coca-Cola as a leader in the effort to improve children's health, I would argue that the American Academy of Pediatrics is not only compromising its integrity, but it is actually working against the public health, because it is undermining efforts to promote policies to improve school nutrition and improve the health of children and adolescents.

The answer, unfortunately, is money. The American Academy of Pediatrics is now bought and paid for by Coca-Cola. Money speaks, and if you pay enough of it, you can even buy off the nation's pediatricians.

2. The American Dietetic Association

Let's examine what it means when the American Dietetic Association states that Coca-Cola shares its positions and policies.

What it means is that the ADA's position and policies must (by logical reasoning) be the following:

• oppose bills in almost every state to restrict the sale of soda and junk food in schools;
• oppose bills in almost every state to set school nutrition standards;
• send lobbyists to almost every state to defeat or weaken legislation to improve child nutrition; and
• deny the scientific evidence that soda contributes to obesity.

Why is the American Dietetic Association arguing that the company which is doing all of these things to oppose the protection of the public's health is aligned with the ADA in its policies and positions? Why would the American Dietetic Association choose to partner with this company?

Moreover, by touting Coca-Cola as a leader in the effort to improve children's health, I would argue that the American Dietetic Association is not only compromising its integrity, but it is actually working against the public health, because it is undermining efforts to promote policies to improve school nutrition and improve the health of children and adolescents.

The answer, unfortunately, is money. The American Dietetic Association is now bought and paid for by Coca-Cola. Money speaks, and if you pay enough of it, you can even buy off the nation's nutritionists.

The rest of the story is that the American Academy of Pediatrics and American Dietetic Association (along with the American Academy of Family Physicians and American Cancer Society) should have new slogans to accurate reflect their actions and priorities. I suggest:

The American Academy of Pediatrics: Bought and Paid for by the Coca-Cola Company

The American Dietetic Association: The Chicago Branch of the Coca-Cola Corporation