The two big soft drinks companies in the spotlight
A few days ago news came to light that the two largest soft drink companies in the United States would have financed some 95 global health organizations.
Companies that fund medical organizations, why?
After jumping into the light that between the years 2011 and 2015 were carried out, according to a study, economic financing, also including those in the public sphere, the debate has taken to the streets and is on everyone's lips. The irony of all this controversy is that the goal of Coca-Cola and Pepsi is joining to collaborate in the fight against obesity.
Is not it curious that brands that create products with industrial quantities of sugar collaborate in this struggle?
Millions of dollars for a single purpose: "the fight against a global evil: obesity."
It is contradictory, ironic and paradoxical, at the same time,That two brands that produce massive quantities of soft drinks laden with sugar want to be the image against the disease of the 21st century.
* Amount of sugar corresponding to a can of 330ml: Approximately 6-7 teaspoons of sugar.
A series of testimonies indicate that they used their influence to hide the possible relationship of some of their products with obesity.
This situation does not occur only in the United States. In Spain also Coca-Cola collaborates with health and nutrition agencies and academies.
It also refers to the fact that the big "sugar lobby" paid scientific studies to divert the culpability of sugar to obesity and attribute it to fats.
What countries are beginning to charge a tax on sugary drinks?
After the worrying data on the increase in obesity worldwide, a number of countries have decided to implement taxes on sugary drinks as an emergency measure to the situation we are currently experiencing.
The collection of this tax was driven by WHO in the celebration of World Obesity Day.
Some of the countries that have aimed to take action against this measure are: Mexico, Hungary, United Kingdom.
Do we know exactly what we consume in these beverages?
As a highlight we will mention that above all distinguished by high calorie contentThese calories are called empty, because they are artificially added and lack minerals or vitamins that may come from their origin.
In rigorous analysis of carbonated soft drinks chemical products have been found, as toxic as Benzene.Prolifera in drinks exposed to light or high temperatures. It is known that this is carcinogenic and is found as a byproduct in carbon and oil emissions. Another component used to give that caramel-like color is the methylimidazole. It is thought to be responsible for many types of cancer such as lung, liver and leukemia. He Aspartame It also appears on this list as a sweetener. It is known that it can cause dizziness, migraines and memory loss. And along with the aforementioned a range of additives is opened such as: Phosphoric acid, E331, Tartaric acidEtc.
COCA-COLA AND PEPSI agree on the removal of a component
In 2014 Coca-Cola and Pepsi decided to withdraw a stabilizer from some of their beverages in the United States. This was done thanks to popular pressure, led by Sarah Kavanagh, a 15-year-old from Mississippi, whose petition, in Change.org In December 2012, it was the withdrawal of the BVO (Brominated Vegetable Oil) that quickly reached 200.000 signatures and was echoed in the American press.
Other similar and controversial cases
Like this case, other striking ones emerged as the case of tobacco. Practices carried out to "bleach" the harmful effects of cigarettes En 1998, the governments of 46 US states signed an agreement with tobacco companies to limit the sponsorship of the industry. This type of approach, or the direct regulation of sponsorships, could be considered by governments.
"Soda companies have bought the silence of these organizations,"explains Michael Siegel