Big Soda Tactics: Money

Big Soda uses industry-run front groups

The sugary drinks industry often forms “Astroturf” groups, organizations that pose as grassroots organizations. Astroturf groups advocate for industry-backed interests while appearing to have the well-being of consumers in mind. These include groups like Californians for Food and Beverage Choice, the American Beverage Association, the Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness, and the Center for Consumer Freedom.

Big Soda tries to influence science by funding studies

A coincidence? Studies funded by the beverage industry are 5 times more likely to find no ‘conclusive’ link between obesity and sugary drinks.

Do Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Cause Obesity and Diabetes? Industry and the Manufacture of Scientific Controversy

Big Soda-Funded Studies Don’t Often Link Drinks to Obesity

Big Soda lobbies politicians

Another way the industry influences consumers is through lobbying. 

"The beverage industry, like other interest groups, spends money to influence lawmakers in several ways: It makes financial contributions to their campaigns and lobbies them and their staffs, sometimes plying them with meals, events and travel. It also donates to charities in lawmakers’ names."

“They follow the playbook of the tobacco industry in protecting their products from criticism, casting doubt on the science, lobbying, working behind the scenes, funding front groups, doing all the things that industries that make potential harmful products do,” said Marion Nestle, author of “Soda Politics” and a professor emerita of food nutrition at New York University." -- Big Soda Pours Big Bucks Into California’s Capitol

Big Soda uses philanthropy

An additional way the industry uses money is through philanthropy. For example, Feeding America accepted $200,000 from Pepsi and Dr. Pepper — and opposed the New York pilot project that would disallow purchase of soda with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Often called “selfish giving,” it’s used as a strategy to link industry brands to health and wellness rather than illness and obesity, create partnerships with respected groups, and gain public trust and goodwill to increase sales and profits.

In their own words...

“Vision 2020 is Coke’s plan to double its business by 2020… This aggressive plan is focused on dramatically increasing consumption of sugary beverages by young people using precision marketing that targets young people, mostly in Latino and African-American communities in the United States and developing countries abroad…”

-- Joe Tripodi, Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer for the Coca-Cola Company, marketing webinar on March 6, 2014 entitled “Winning the Hearts and Minds of the Global Millennial Generation"