COCA-COLA's sugarized onslaught
Coca-Cola is partly to blame for a surge in fat Australian children, according to Health Minister Tony Abbott. In a speech at an international diabetes summit in Melbourne yesterday, Mr Abbott said soft drinks were harmful and that they should disappear from Australian fridges. He singled out market leader Coca-Cola, and he urged the company to promote healthier options.
He said the Government would announce plans within the next few months to discourage Australians from drinking soft drinks. Mr Abbott described soft drinks as "sugar-laden, caffeine-laden, acidic stuff".
"What the Government ought to do is to get the message out there that soft drink is all very well as an occasional treat but it's not something that should be a staple of kids' diets," he said.
"A can of Coke contains something like 160 calories. It's a good half hour of walking to burn off that kind of energy".
Coca Cola recently launched their "zero" range of sugar free soft drinks. However, many of these soft drinks are still very acidic and contain high levels of caffeine.
You can read more about the story here: [url="http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/abbott-lashes-cocacola-over-child-obesity/2006/11/13/1163266481629.html"]http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/abb...3266481629.html[/url]
Coca-Cola is partly to blame for a surge in fat Australian children, according to Health Minister Tony Abbott. In a speech at an international diabetes summit in Melbourne yesterday, Mr Abbott said soft drinks were harmful and that they should disappear from Australian fridges. He singled out market leader Coca-Cola, and he urged the company to promote healthier options.
He said the Government would announce plans within the next few months to discourage Australians from drinking soft drinks. Mr Abbott described soft drinks as "sugar-laden, caffeine-laden, acidic stuff".
"What the Government ought to do is to get the message out there that soft drink is all very well as an occasional treat but it's not something that should be a staple of kids' diets," he said.
"A can of Coke contains something like 160 calories. It's a good half hour of walking to burn off that kind of energy".
Coca Cola recently launched their "zero" range of sugar free soft drinks. However, many of these soft drinks are still very acidic and contain high levels of caffeine.
You can read more about the story here: [url="http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/abbott-lashes-cocacola-over-child-obesity/2006/11/13/1163266481629.html"]http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/abb...3266481629.html[/url]