Coca-Cola Co will air on Monday a two-minute commercial that addresses its endeavor in fighting against obesity, as the debate over the impact of sugary drinks on public health has been heated and the company faces mounting pressure from the critics.
The commercial expresses concern over obesity issue and notes that people can make a difference when they “come together”. And it shows how Coke has been contributing to help people make better choices: low and no-calorie drinks, better-tasting low-calorie sweetener, and smaller can sizes. Coca-Cola spokesperson Ben Sheidler told NBC’s TODAY show that the advertisement is all about more choices and transparency.
The advertisement reminds that "all calories count no matter where they come from" and "if you eat and drink more calories than you burn off, you'll gain weight." It shows various activities that can burn off 140 calories in a can of Coke.
This is the first time Coca-Cola uses TV advertisement to address obesity. The move comes as New York City is set to ban soda servings over 16 ounces in places like restaurants, movie theaters, and sports arenas. Similar proposals are also being considered in Cambridge, Massachusetts. In November, voters in two cities in California rejected ballot measures for soda taxes.
However, Coca-Cola said the ad was not created to react to the negative public sentiment. "There's an important conversation going on about obesity out there, and we want to be a part of the conversation," Stuart Kronauge, general manager of sparkling beverages for Coca-Cola North America, said.
However, Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, was skeptical about the ultimate purpose behind the ad. “[Coke is] trying to pretend they're part of the solution instead of part of the problem.”
One viewer commented on the Coke ad posted on Youtube, “Coca Cola: It's not our fault you're fat.™”
The commercial will begin airing on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer," FOX News' "The O'Reilly Factor," and MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show" on Monday. Another commercial will also air on Wednesday during "American Idol" on Fox.
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