India’s water crisis laid bare by clash with US cola giants
A pollution fine for Coca-Cola and an order for PepsiCo to cut water use at factories in India have highlighted an intensifying conflict between big business and farmers over natural resources. Indian village women demand the closure of Coca-Cola and PepsiCo factories due to fears over groundwater poisioning during a protest in New Delhi in October 2006. (AFP Photo)
Criticism of Coca-Cola
Criticism of Coca-Cola has arisen from various groups, concerning a variety of issues, including health effects, environmental issues, and business practices. The Coca-Cola Company, its subsidiaries and products have been subject to sustained criticism by both consumer groups and watchdogs, particularly since the early 2000s. Allegations against the company are varied, including possible health effects of Coca-Cola products,a poor environmental record,perception of the companies' engagement in monopolistic business practices,questionable labour practices (including allegations of involvement with paramilitary organisations in suppression of trade unions),questionable marketing strategies, andaccusation of violations of intellectual property rights. Perception of the company as behaving unethically has led to the formation of pressure groups such as "Killer Coke", product boycotts, and lawsuits.
Oops! Coke Apologizes After Getting Busted Spending Millions to Manipulate Science
By Dr. Harold Goldstein, Executive Director, California Center for Public Health Advocacy. Like a cat caught with the pet canary in its mouth, the world’s largest beverage company has guilt written all over its face.
well.blogs.nytimes
Photo Coca-Cola, the world’s largest producer of sugary beverages, is backing a new “science-based” solution to the obesity crisis: To maintain a healthy weight, get more exercise and worry less about cutting calories. The beverage giant has teamed up with influential scientists who are advancing this message in medical journals, at conferences and through social media. To help the scientists get the word out, Coke has provided financial and logistical support to a new nonprofit organization called the Global Energy Balance Network, which promotes the argument that weight-conscious Americans are overly fixated on how much they eat and drink while not paying enough attention to exercise.
Coca-Cola on Track to Meet 100% Water Replenishment Goal: The Coca-Cola Company
Company and its Bottling Partners Replenished an Estimated 94% of 2014 Sales Volume; Working To Be The First Food and Beverage Company To Replenish All The Water It Uses STOCKHOLM, August 25, 2015 – The Company and its global bottling partners (the system) today announced they are on track to meet their 2020 water replenishment goal by the end of 2015. Based on the system’s global water replenishment projects to date, the system is balancing the equivalent of an estimated 94 percent of the water used in its finished beverages based on 2014 sales volume. Since 2004, has replenished an estimated 153.6 billion liters of water back to communities and nature through 209 community water projects in 61 countries. The system returned approximately 126.7 billion liters of water used in its manufacturing processes back to communities and nature through treated wastewater in 2014. “There is no resource more precious to human life and the health of our global ecosystems and economies than water.
Should I Drink Diet Soda?
Welcome to Should I Eat This?—our weekly poll of five experts who answer nutrition questions that gnaw at you. 5/5 experts say no. Man, diet soda just can’t catch a break with these experts. Maybe that’s because it’s the ultimate hypocrite of the beverage world. People probably get hooked on diet soda in the hope that the “diet” part will pay off.
Coca Cola facing terrorism support charges in Colombia
Multinational beverage producer Coca Cola is one of more than 50 companies that will be charged with financing the now-defunct Colombian paramilitary AUC group, a designated terrorist organization. Several courts will reportedly forward evidence of the involvement of the companies in financing the AUC, which killed many dozens of labor rights defenders during its existence between 1997 and 2006, to a transitional justice tribunal. Among the 57 companies are other major multinationals like Chiquita and Drummond.
Coca-Cola faces case under SC/ST Act in Kerala
PALAKKAD: Kerala Police has registered a case against multi-national soft-drink major Coca-Cola for allegedly exploiting and polluting groundwater sources of the backward Scheduled Caste community at Plachimada here. According to the case registered at Meenakshipuram police station here, Coca-Cola's unit at Plachimada, which after being operational for some years is shut since 2004, had "wilfully polluted" the water sources of Eravalas, one of the most backward Scheduled Caste communities in the region. When contacted, company's spokesperson said a response on the issue can be given only by tomorrow. Top company officials have been booked for non-bailable offences under various provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, police said.
Consumption of artificial sweetener– and sugar-containing soda and risk of lymphoma and leukemia in men and women
© 2012 American Society for Nutrition + Author Affiliations + Author Notes ↵2 Funding sources had no role in the design or analysis of the study or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. ↵3 Supported by the NIH/National Cancer Institute (grant CA130054 entitled “Aspartame Intake and the Risk of Cancer” primary investigator: ESS) and in part by a Nutritional Epidemiology of Cancer Training Grant (R25 CA098566; to KB).
