A peer-reviewed article submitted to Public Health Nutrition exposes the influence and favors that multi-national companies, including Coca-Cola, effectively bought through donations, sponsorships and indirect financial assistance to academic institutions and organizations.
Referencing Coca-Cola specifically, the study said, “Documents suggest Coca-Cola provides direct financial support to institutions and organizations hosting events in exchange for benefits, including influence over proceedings.
“Coca-Cola also provided direct financial support to speakers and researchers, sometimes
conditional on media interviews. Also, indirect financial support passed through Coca-Cola-
financed non-profits. Often, such financial support was not readily identifiable, and third-
party involvement further concealed Coca-Cola funding.”
Subsequently, Coca-Cola and other corporations engaging in these activities were able to have direct influence on the recipients in the form of inside industry marketing not otherwise available to them.
Likening it to tobacco industry tactics, researchers said, “an emerging body of evidence reveals that the food and beverage industries employ similar tactics.” As an example, the study reported that, “payments ranged from $2,500 to $100,000 per event” — not exactly a small amount.
SOURCE:
Cambridge University Press December 1, 2022