Dive Brief:
- Coca-Cola Co. revealed that it has contributed $118.6 million to fund scientific research and health and fitness programs in the U.S. since 2010. The funding information is available on the company's website.
- Coca-Cola outlined its expenditures from the past five years, and according to the company, of the nearly $120 million total, the company spent $21.8 million for third-party scientific research on health-related issues and another $96.8 million in health and well-being partnerships.
- Coca-Cola is sharing this information in a push for transparency following a debacle started by a New York Times report regarding the implied downplaying of calories' contribution to obesity in favor of exercise by research from the Global Energy Balance Network, which was funded by the company. Coca-Cola said it never denied calories' role in the rise of obesity in the U.S.
Dive Insight:
"Chief Executive Muhtar Kent promised in an op-ed column in The Wall Street Journal last month that the company would begin disclosing all of its financial contributions to health and academic groups after he acknowledged questions over funding had fueled 'confusion and mistrust,'" The Wall Street Journal reported.
Sandy Douglas, president of Coca-Cola North America, also announced a "listening tour" wherein he would visit several public-health groups over the next few weeks "to ensure future funding of health and anti-obesity efforts 'is both helpful and credible,'" Douglas told The Wall Street Journal.
From U.S. universities like Louisiana State University and University of South Carolina to organizations like the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Cancer Society, and Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics, Coca-Cola has had its hand in a number of health and wellness research and programs over the years.