COCA-COLA SEVERS TIES WITH PRO-SUGAR GROUP

Coca-Cola Co. has ended its long association with the International Life Sciences Institute, a blow to the powerful food organization known for its pro-sugar research and policies.

The beverage giant ended its membership at the “global, regional and country level” as of this month, Coke said in a statement in response to inquiries from Bloomberg News. The decision was made after a routine review, the company said without offering additional details.

The departure is a major setback for ILSI at a time when health-conscious consumers are increasingly turning away from sugar-laden beverages.

The group, which was created in 1978 by a former Coke executive, still lists companies such as PepsiCo, Kellogg and McDonald’s as members, but Coke had been a prominent supporter and financial backer.

ILSI has come under fire in recent years for its role in influencing government health and nutrition policy around the world, acting as what some scientists and health experts have called an advocacy-oriented front group for its corporate members. The group has promoted the industry-friendly idea that physical exercise, not a change in diet, is how to combat obesity, according to a 2015 New York Times report. It has exerted influence around the world, including in a multidecade effort in China that was detailed in the Journal of Health, Politics, Policy and Law, as well as in India and Brazil.