Coca-Cola offers real solutions for real people

28 July 2005

Media Release

Coca-Cola offers real solutions for real people

Coca-Cola has released a new guide to help people make healthy beverage choices. It offers real people real solutions on what to choose to drink, as opposed to telling people what they can or can't drink.

The guidelines are a response to the fact that soft drinks are constantly being singled out as the cause of obesity and incorrectly positioned as unsuitable beverage choices for the majority of the population.

Fizzy drinks have been around for 120 years and while moderation is recommended, most people can enjoy them as part of a balanced diet. For those who do want to reduce sugar and energy intake, a huge range of low energy alternatives is available.

Alison Sykora of Coca-Cola Oceania notes that not everyone who drinks soft drinks is overweight.

"The debate around obesity has focused very much on what people should not do. We felt it was time to offer people some real information on what they can do. We think consumers are smart enough to make sensible choices when they have good information.

"Telling people to avoid or cut out a certain food or drink will not necessarily help them have a healthier diet or body weight and in fact detracts from scientifically proven advice that shows people need to look at their overall diet and the amount of physical exercise they do."

The NZ Nutrition Foundation has praised the new guide saying "the booklet is full of useful information to guide consumers in appropriate beverage choices". Their CEO, Sue Pollard, also notes that "there is no such thing as a "bad" food or beverage".

Key messages in the guide include:

* Drinks contain energy and this should be considered when thinking about your or your child's total food and drink intake.

* If your energy output is low it is more sensible to choose a low energy drink, because energy input from both food and drink needs to be matched with energy output in order to maintain a healthy weight.

* Most children who have a healthy body weight can enjoy all non-alcoholic drinks. For both adults and children, standard sugar-containing fizzy drinks and juices should be consumed in moderation - especially by those watching their weight.

* The nutrient levels of different beverage choices are listed in detail to enable people to make an informed choice.

The guide was developed in conjunction with dietitians and nutritionists.

Beverage choice guide brochures are available from 0800 505 123.

ENDS

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