Coke truck promotion under fire from Scots health chiefs
HEALTH experts have condemned Coca-Cola for launching the Christmas Coke Truck tour in Scotland while children suffer record levels of amputations due to consuming too much sugar.
The soft drinks giant’s annual “festive” campaign was due to start today in Glasgow.
But more than 40 public health directors, councillors and community groups criticised the promotion of sugary drinks to youngsters.
In an open letter spearheaded by the SUGAR SMART healthy eating campaign, they warned the tour of the truck featured in Coke’s popular Christmas ads had “less than festive” consequences.
The letter said: “It is with huge concern that we see Coca-Cola once again using the festive spirit to promote sugary drinks to children and the general population.
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“Childhood obesity figures continue to make for grim reading. This year was marked by a record high number of amputations – more than 8,500, mostly due to type 2 diabetes.
“This condition is closely linked with being overweight or obese and diets high in sugar can lead to being overweight or obese.”
Linda de Caestecker, director of public health at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, was among -signatories who called on Coca-Cola to “stop promoting sugary drinks” during this year’s tour and instead hand out sugar-free drinks and water.
Coca-Cola said the tour was a “moment of fun for everyone”. Visitors would be offered 150ml samples of Coca-Cola Classic, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar or Diet Coke, “so two of the three options” were sugar-free, it said.
