Truth in Advertising? Coca-Cola and Its Image

Recently, attention has been directed at the influence that soda consumption (both regular and ‘diet’) has on overweight, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Fighting back, Coca-Cola published an ad stating that the idea that Coca-Cola causes teeth decay and obesity in children is untrue (a “myth” is the word they used).

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ordered the company to publish corrective ads to set the matter straight, and the UK journal Lancet published a pretty blistering editorial on the food industry’s tactics in protecting their products.

It’s clear that Coca-Cola stepped over the line in the case of teeth decay; the evidence is as good as can be, short of prospective controlled clinical studies. And the calorie content of Coke is clearly a factor in many cases of childhood obesity; recently, even ‘diet’ sodas have been found to be linked to the metabolic syndrome.

The Lancet editorial draws a parallel between the tactics of the food industry and that of tobacco manufacturers, who have fought a successful rearguard action for years and years. It’s time to heed the physicians’ opinion on these beverages – after all, they were right when it came to cigarettes.