Public Health England criticises Coca Cola’s Christmas truck tour

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Representatives from Public Health England have criticised Coca Cola for planning a tour of some of the country’s most deprived towns and cities this Christmas. The health watchdog claims that the campaign, which will see the famous truck featured in the festive TV adverts, is targeting some of the most vulnerable people in the poorest parts of the country.

The Coca Cola truck will be visiting a total of 42 towns and cities in the coming weeks and people will be able to enjoy free samples, which Public Health England claims is the “last thing children need.” The promotional tour actively encourages people to drink fizzy drinks and this is one of the main problems facing health officials today. Children are consuming more sugar than ever before, and health experts are concerned about the negative influence of campaigns like Coca Cola’s truck tour.

Despite the fact that Coca Cola has stressed that sugar-free drinks will be available at all destinations, Dr Alison Tedstone, from PHE, said that there is a clear link between obesity and social and economic background and the trucks will be visiting some of the country’s poorest towns. Dr Tedstone said that PHE is working with councils to try and promote campaigns that are designed to encourage healthier living habits, and a visit from a truck that promotes products like Coca Cola may be seen as counter-productive. There’s also a strong connection between the consumption of fizzy drinks and dental decay in children, and with thousands of children undergoing treatment in hospital for rotten teeth, plans to advertise sugar-laden drinks in city centres have not gone down well with dentists. News from PHE comes after health officials in Liverpool and dentists in Swansea called for the tour to be cancelled.

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