“Most of
its 25 products cause physical harm to people’s health when regularly consumed.
The company is actively contributing to rising levels of ill health and the
need for increased funding for the treatment of disease like diabetes. To a
lesser degree it fits the economic dominance category – along with Frucor
(owned by Suntory Group, a leading Japanese food and beverage company) it
dominates the NZ beverage market”.
“Coca-Cola
may have funded Christmas in the Park, paid for Mahé Drysdale’s gold medal
rowing efforts as a Powerade ambassador at the (Rio Olympic) Games and
basketballer Steven Adams as another promoter of Powerade, but it does not take
away from the facts that it is peddling sugar and ill-health. Earlier this year
in a submission on an Advertising Standards Authority review, the NelsonMalborough District Health Board called for an end to sponsorship deals
between sports teams and junk food giants”.
“Dr RobBeaglehole said they were the number one source of sugar in the diets of
New Zealand children, contributing to the incidence of tooth decay, obesity and
type 2 diabetes as well as other health problems. ‘It make sense for me to turn
the sugar tap off in order to save these kids’ teeth’, he said. Beaglehole used
anecdotal stories that showed the cultural sway of sports heroes like former
All Black captain Richie McCaw who drank Powerade”.
“The
nomination seeks to highlight the harmful effect of sugar-sweetened beverages
and the increased incidence of obesity related diseases such as diabetes and
serious tooth decay including amongst Maori and Pasifika peoples. Seven per
cent of New Zealanders have diabetes and one in five adults are at risk of
getting it. 10% of Maori and 15% of Pacific people have diabetes. Many people
do not realise the potential harm from Coke. One man reported his heart scare
to a reporter. Beverage manufacturers have collaborated with supermarkets and
others to make these drinks cheap and easily accessible. Something that was once
a ‘treat food’ is now a drink that significant numbers of people drink in
comparatively large quantities every day”.
“Who is to
blame for the overconsumption of unhealthy beverages? An emphasis on individual
choice, the use of celebrity sports people as sponsors, a highly successful
global brand and lack of Government policy have enabled Coca Cola to increase
market share and corresponding profits. The costs of overconsumption are borne
by the public. Effectively Coca Cola and other sugar-sweetened beverage
manufacturers have increased consumption of cheaper unhealthy products to a
level that has raised growing medical concern”.
“When a
brand is as strong as Coca Cola, those who are associated with it have
immediate recognition. At the global level it has destroyed local drink
manufacturers, used up valuable water supplies and created a homogenised
culture in most countries. You can taste the feeling – a successful
transnational corporation purveying harmful sugar and caffeine but hiding its
costs and the damage such activity does”.
