CSE to Coke, Pepsi: Curb marketing to kids

The Centre for Science and Environment, along with health groups from across the globe such as the World Public Health Nutrition Association, World Obesity Federation, Consumers International and Center for Science in the Public Interest, has called on multinational giants Coca-Cola and PepsiCo to adopt and enforce a policy of not marketing sugar drinks to children aged 16 and under.

“Sugary drinks are aggressively targeted to children world over. The problem is much severe in India. Our regulations are weak to address this issue. Companies are aggressively targeting our children, directly and indirectly. There is no check on celebrity endorsements, broadcasting during programs for children, in-school promotion,” Chandra Bhushan, CSE deputy director-general, said.

“Sugary drinks are contributing to growing childhood obesity, early onset of Type 2 diabetes. It is time that these big companies act responsibly and stop marketing these unhealthy drinks to children. It would be a big initiative from their side,” Mr Bhushan added.

The group has written to Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent and PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi and major institutional investors of these companies for their consideration at respective annual meetings scheduled soon.

“While sugary drink consumption in the US and Europe has been declining, your company and others are investing billions of dollars annually to increase sales in low/middle-income countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America,” the group’s joint letter to the multinationals said.

Lower-income countries, in particular, will face steep and sometimes-unaffordable increases in the healthcare costs associated with rising rates of Type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and other related health problems, the group said.

The two firms were also urged to include warning notices about adverse health effects on soda containers, stop fighting public health measures aimed at reducing soda consumption, such as taxes, warning labels, or marketing restrictions.

Besides CSE, co-signers of the letter include ACT+ (Alliance for the Control of Tobacco Use and Health Promotion, Brazil); Alianza por la Salud Alimentaria, Mexico; Australia and New Zealand Obesity Society; Center for Science in the Public Interest, United States; Coalición Latinoamérica Saludable; Consumers International; Instituto Brasileiro de Defesa do Consumidor; InterAmerican Heart Foundation; International Baby Food Action Network; El Poder del Consumidor, Mexico; World Obesity Federation; and the World Public Health Nutrition.