Group Funded by Coke to Fight Obesity Disbanding - The New York Times
▻http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2015/12/01/us/ap-us-coke-health-group.html
A nonprofit funded by the Coca-Cola Co. to combat obesity is disbanding following revelations about the beverage maker’s involvement with the group.
The Global Energy Balance Network said on its website Monday night that it is “discontinuing operations due to resource limitations.” The decision was effective immediately.
The group had previously said that it received an “unrestricted gift” from Coke and that the Atlanta-based soft drink giant had “no input” into its activities.
But last week, The Associated Press reported on emails showing that Coke helped with the selection of the group’s leaders, edited its mission statement and suggested content for its website. When contacted about the exchanges, Coke CEO Muhtar Kent said in a statement there wasn’t enough transparency regarding the company’s involvement.
Coke also told the AP that it accepted the retirement of Rhona Applebaum, its chief health and science officer who initially managed the relationship with the group. The company said it was no longer working with the Global Energy Balance Network.
The emails obtained by the AP through a records request showed Coke executives and the group’s leaders held meetings and conference calls to develop the group’s mission. A proposal circulated via email at Coke laid out a vision for a group that would “quickly establish itself as the place the media goes to for comment on any obesity issue.” It said the group would run a political-style campaign to counter the “shrill rhetoric” of “public health extremists.”