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The Food and Drug Administration proposed a sea change to American diets last month, recommending we limit our sugar intake to 50 grams — roughly the amount in a can and a half of Coke — a day.
Not surprisingly, soda companies are less than pleased. But their strategy to apeal to consumers and avoid the regulations is eerily reminiscent of another industry: Big Tobacco.
"Soda follows tobacco's playbook to the letter," Marion Nestle, a professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University and the author of the book "Soda Politics," which explores the relationship between soda industries, politics, and public health, told Business Insider.
Here are seven ways soda is following in some not-so-healthy footsteps:
READ MORE: There's a new Big Tobacco — and one industry is determined to silence its critics
SEE ALSO: The government just proposed a sea change to American diets — and one industry is furious
Attacks the science.
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A systematic review of 50 years of studies found a link between the amount of sugar-sweetened beverages people consumed and weight gain and obesity; another study written by 7 experts in public health, nutrition, and economics made the links between sugary drinks and America's obesity problem explicit:
"The science base linking the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages to the risk of chronic diseases is clear," they wrote.
Coke has said that isn't so: In fact, a controversial research group they formed has said "there is 'strong evidence' that the key to preventing weight gain is not reducing food intake 'but maintaining an active lifestyle and eating more calories.' And the studies they cite to back these claims were supported financially by The Coca-Cola Company.
Promotes exercise as a solution.
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In an introductory video, one of the Global Energy Balance Network's leaders said the media focuses on "eating too much, eating too much, eating too much — blaming fast food, blaming sugary drinks and so on."
The video has since been taken down, and the group said the idea that it only focuses on physical activity is inaccurate.
Funds community groups.
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The soda industry has helped shape a nonprofit dedicated to championing exercise over dietary changes; contributed money to hospitals, community organizations, and universities, and even made campaign contributions to local politicians.
While Coke helped shape the nonprofit Global Energy Balance Network, which got $1.5 million from them and claims to combat obesity by championing exercise over dietary changes and gave money to the University of Colorado (who's since given the money back), the soda lobby gave $10 million to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider