By: Karolina Starczak

Nov 13, 2009

As one of the largest national medical organizations, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has been known as the go-to place for health-related matters. Unfortunately, desperate times call for desperate measures…financial measures that is.  Recently the health conscious association got a little funding from a surprising new partner—Coca Cola Co.

At one point Coke was America’s sweetheart, but as the years flew by and our waistlines grew, Coke’s reputation began to circle the drain. As one of the largest obesity-promoting soft drink producers, Coke decided to make a six-figure attempt to get back into our hearts and bellies. And what better place to start than with an organization of family physicians?

The money will of course be put towards the AAFP’s consumer education section on beverages and sweeteners as well as federal advocacy efforts on health care reform. It sounds kind of benign at first, but Coke couldn’t have picked a better partner to help them wage war on the proposed Soda tax and maybe convince us that soda really isn’t that bad. I can already envision those Coca Cola supported "Americans Against Food Taxes" commercials playing over and over in my doctor’s waiting room.

Needless to say the AAFP is receiving their share of “constructive” criticism from colleagues and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a nonprofit health-advocacy organization. Check out this letter to see what I mean. The AAFT should not need to be reminded that if they are funded by Coke, then telling people to skip the empty soda calories isn’t going to fly. I guess promoting healthy choices takes a back seat when that six-figure fund comes into town.

If you’re not quite sure what impact soft drinks have on our health, look over the CSPI’s Liquid Candy Report.

Do you think the AAFT should have accepted funding from Coke?

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What Soda Really Does to Your Body