VSF Global Food Justice denounces that the brand of soft drinks sponsors the diabetes race organized by the Diabetes Foundation and the Association of Diabetics of Madrid.
The consumption of a sugary drink can 15-26% the risk of type II diabetes
According to different studies, in the Spanish State, 127,000 cases of type II diabetes can be attributed to sugary drinks
The consumption of a can of sugary drink increases 15-26% the risk of type II diabetes.In fact, in the Spanish State, 127,000 cases of type II diabetes [i] [i] are attributed to the consumption of these drinks.Given this panorama, vsf Global Food Justice denounces that Coca-Cola Company has no qualms about sponsoring the 4th race and popular walking for diabetes organized by the Diabetes Foundation and the Madrid Diabetics Association that will be held next Sunday.
Can you imagine that a tobacco sponsored an event against lung cancer?Such nonsense would not be possible today;However, within the food industry there is still a long way to go.
Soft drinks and their health effects
Sugary drinks have been identified as one of the main causes of diabetes and other diseases associated with obesity.In the Spanish state, the most important source of added sugars is found in sodas in a percentage of 23%, since a tail or orange can contains between 8 and 9 teaspoons of sugar and a half -liter bottle can contain between12 and 14. According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO) globally, overweight and obesity pandemic are the fifth main death risk factor in the world.In addition to the problem itself, the presence of associated diseases must be taken into account: 44% of diabetes cases, 23% of cases of ischemic heart disease and between 7 and 41% of the cases of some cancers areattributable to overweight and obesity.However, the food industry continues to develop strategies to deny that diet -related diseases have become a serious threat to health throughout the world.
"For diabetes" or "against diabetes"?
The list of days, congresses and sponsorships linked to health and food that have been funded by the food industry to wash their image is endless.As the report reveals confidence in me.Rotating doors, conflicts of interest and dangerous friendships between the food industry and health agencies, the industry has created a narrative that, thanks to good marketing campaigns and the help of different foundations and public and private organizations, has been repeated untilget society to internalize it.In fact, most large food companies that contribute their products to poor diet have managed to link their image to health.To do this, the collaboration of public administration and medical organizations has been key.Agrifood companies know that, in the battle of public opinion, it is essential that their arguments are backed by organizations, entities or people related to the world of science.
The sponsorship of next Sunday clearly evidences this link and demonstrates that in the free market everything goes."The food industry has large image washing mechanisms established, but why the addresses of the Diabetes Foundation and the Madrid Diabetics Association lend themselves to this game?" Demands Javier Guzmán, director of VSF Food JusticeGlobal.
Taxes to cover the health cost
According to the Federation of Spanish Diabetics, to which one of theRace organizers, the cost of diabetes attributable to sugary drinks is 540 million euros a year, adding direct costs (treatment and hospitalizations) and indirect (absenteeism work absenteeism, early retirements and social expenses).To listen to this expense, a 20% increase in the price of each can of Coca-Cola would be necessary, equivalent to 0.1 euros extras per soda.Finland, Hungary, France, Ireland, Australia, Mexico, the United States and the United Kingdom, among others, use tax measures in soft drinks as a deterrent and as a means to raise funds.“The opposition by the industry to this type of measures is not due to fear for the fall of their sales, but not to assume that soft drinks are the cause of serious health problems in adults and in childhood.The image is the most sacred this type of companies and anything that damage could affect sales much more than a slight increase in price, ”adds Guzmán.
Some data:
Coca-Cola consumption and added sugar
-Ell time are ingested in the Spanish State 25,000 kg of sugars added through Coca-Cola.This is equivalent to 3 million sugar overflows.
-Ean day 620,000 kg of sugars added through Coca-Cola, which would correspond to 76 million overlaps are ingested in the Spanish State.
-Ean day, 13 million people in the Spanish State are consuming at least 35 grams of sugar added through Coca-Cola.Without taking into account other elements of the diet, only this consumption already exceeds the recommendations of the daily sugar WHO.
