“Is It Ethical for Coke to Sponsor Conflicted Research on Weight Loss?” This article is written by Dana Radcliffe and was published in late August of 2015 in the business section of the Huffington Post. It discussed the US$1.5 million of funding The Coca-Cola Company had given to enable the launching of an organization known as the Global Energy Balance Network (GEBN). The GEBN is a non-profit organization which articulates in its mission statement, is “dedicated to identifying and implementing innovative solutions to prevent and reduce diseases associated with inactivity, poor nutrition and obesity.” One should be immediately asking themselves: why would Coke sponsor a weight loss promoting organization?

Despite this article striking as a bit odd, it absolutely reeks with hypocrisy. However, the true issue of this article lies in its ethics. A second time, one should wonder why Coke would poke its nose in the business of weight loss? First off, the consumption of sugar-filled beverages (like Coke) is one of the top leading factors of obesity in the United States. Second, Coke is not just any big soda company; it is in fact the single largest soda conglomerate worldwide, valuing in at just over US$70 billion, the next runner up being Diet Coke at a comparatively puny US$13.8 billion. If Coke was truly interested in promoting weight loss, the first step it should be taking is changing the recipe of its infamous beverage.

Aside from singlehandedly being one of the largest contributors to American obesity, a professor at New York University by the name of Marion Nestle claims that the GEBN is “nothing but a front group for Coca-Cola.” She went on to accuse Coke of funding the GEBN in order to “get these researchers to confuse the science and deflect attention from dietary intake.” If this is truly the case, this situation – quite ironically – displays immense immorality and could only lead to further proving how much damage Coke is inflicting on its more-than-frequent consumers.

Main Article: Is It Ethical for Coke to Sponsor Conflicted Research on Weight Loss?

Supporting articles: About GEBN , American Soda Brand Value Rankings , Contributing Factors to American Obesity