Soft drink majors urged to stop 'hardcore' marketing to kids

New Delhi, Apr 22: Global health organisations, including some Indian NGOs, have asked soft drink majors to stop "hardcore" marketing and advertising of sugar-sweetened beverages to children.

The groups, which include Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), have written to CEOs of Coca Cola and Pepsico and other institutional investors to "acknowledge" the burden of sugar-related diseases in children.

The letter, sent in the run-up to Coca-Cola's annual meeting on April 27 and PepsiCo's on May 4, claimed that the multi-nationals are targeting low or middle-income countries in Asia, Africa, Middle East and Latin America which face steep rise in costs associated with health problems related to these drinks.

Both the soft drink majors were not available for comment on the matter. The letter has been co-signed by the George Institute for Global Health from Australia and India (which joined with other groups), Alliance for the Control of Tobacco Use and Health Promotion in Brazil.

The Nutritional Health Alliance in Mexico, Australia and New Zealand, Obesity Society from Australia, China, India and UK, Centre for Science and Environment in India, World Obesity Federation and World Public Health Nutrition Association are also signatories to the letter.

PTI