Recent attention put towards lowering elevated rates of obesity across the globe has caused a major drop in sales for beverage company Coca-Cola. In response to several campaign’s targeting bad diets (including sugary drinks) as the route cause of obesity, Coca-Cola allocated lofty funds towards research that sought to put the blame elsewhere. Included in these funds, was a contribution towards starting the Global Energy Balance Network (GEBN), a non-profit that aims for the reduction of disease and obesity due to “unhealthy lifestyle”. The message of this organization worked in the beverage companies favor by suggesting that obesity is more related to lack of exercise than to unhealthy diets. However, critics were quick to question whether the statements made were true, or just an effort by Coke to sustain consumer loyalty. By donating to obesity lowering research, not only does Coca-Cola rehabilitate their unhealthy image, they also have an opportunity to skew the “scientific research” being publicized. As a result the soft drink company can maintain high sales and continue to rake in a healthy profit.
The ethical dilemma here is whether or not Coca-Cola should even be allowed to support health research when their products are by definition unhealthy. It appears hypocritical to permit a company with products at the root of so many health issues, to make face that they support motivations to create a healthier society . During a period of urgent health risk it is unfortunate to see that large businesses still putting profit above global well-being. Perhaps, Coca-Cola should first gain initiative to create a healthier product, before throwing money at research that omits them from the problem.
(http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dana-radcliffe/is-it-ethical-for-coke-to_b_8009304.html)
(http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/08/09/coca-cola-funds-scientists-who-shift-blame-for-obesity-away-from-bad-diets/?_r=1)
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