Coca-Cola is staying true to its word when it said last month that it will be more transparent when it comes to its endeavors to promote health. Just this Tuesday, the popular brand revealed where it spent the hefty sum of $118.6 million.
The New York Times has learned that Coke actually spent the almost $120 million sum for academic health research. The Atlanta, Georgia-based company that is known for its carbonated soft drink has actually partnered with medical groups and fitness programs to help fight the epidemic that is obesity.
Coke's transparency vow came after New York Times ran a story on how the company funded a group that downplayed the role of beverages in the epidemic and insisted that people become obese because they eat more than they exercise.
The embattled group was Global Energy Balance Network which said at the time that the media focuses on "eating too much, eating too much, eating too much — blaming fast food, blaming sugary drinks, and so on."
However, the group and the company just received a lot of criticism since nutrition advocates pointed out that food and beverage companies oftentimes deflect the real issues about their products by calling out people for their lack of physical activity.
Following the controversy, Coke is now willing to correct its "disappointing" actions by revealing what it did to help answer the obesity epidemic, as per Observer-Reporter.
Coca-Cola North America president Sandy Douglas said, "We understand that our efforts in dealing with the obesity epidemic are not seen as credible, so we must — and want to do better."
Via its website, Coke revealed that it had spent a total of $118.6 million on health-focused endeavors —$21.8 million went to academic research (since 2010) and $96.8 million went to "health and well-being partnerships."
The sugary drink maker also included that it also gave financial support to the American Diabetes Association and The Obesity Society, among others. Coke indicated that other partners and experts they have worked and continue to work with have refused to have their names on the company's site, as reported by The Kansas City Star.
"We understand that our efforts on obesity are not always seen as credible. What we're doing today is just a first step," Douglas said.
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