Photo by Jasonk./Flickr CC
Yesterday, 20 family physicians in Contra Costa County, California ripped up their membership cards in the American Academy of Family Physicians in protest over the AAFP's partnership with Coca-Cola.
The director of the Contra Costa Department of Health Services, Dr. William Walker, announced that he was resigning his 25-year membership in AAFP. In his statement, Dr. Walker said:
...I am appalled and ashamed of this partnership between Coca-Cola and the American Academy of Family Physicians. How can any organization that claims to promote public health join forces with a company that promotes products that put our children at risk for obesity, heart disease and early death.
...The AAFP is supposed to be an organization that works to protect the health of children not put them at risk. Their decision to take soda money is all the more unconscionable because, unlike doctors in the 40s, they well know the negative health impact of soda. There is no shortage of documentation that soda is a major contributor to our nation's obesity epidemic.
...Let me be clear about something: as disappointed as I am with the American Academy of Family Physicians for being duped into thinking that Coca Cola wants to help promote health, the real problem here is our children are being put at risk.
Companies like Coca Cola are polluting our communities with deceptive advertising promoting products that put our children's health at risk.
...as a family practice doctor and the Health Officer for Contra Costa, I do have a prescription for every parent, teacher, community leader and student:
Look beyond the glitzy advertising that makes you think pouring liquid containing sugar into your body is healthy. Read the label. Look at the ingredients. I'm not suggesting that you boycott sugared drinks, but please make an informed decision about what you are consuming.
I'm calling on every city and neighborhood in our County to fight back against the industry the pushes these harmful products. I ask the American Academy of Family Physicians to end this unhealthy partnership and to join us in leading this important campaign to take back the health of our residents and end the obesity epidemic.
Strong words, indeed. I hope that the AAFP--and other health and nutrition organizations that might consider food industry partnerships--pay close attention to these words.
* The event was covered in the Contra Costa Times. The Health Department's website includes the press release and also a video and podcast.
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I am glad some doctors are canceling their membership to the AAFP. The AAFP endorsement in the face of overwhelming evidence that sugary drinks contribute to childhood obesity is appalling. http://www.mydochub.com
My wife considered cancelling her membership in the AAFP. She's pretty irate. Unfortunately, she's job hunting right now and she needs all of the medical society memberships she can get.
This is just like the American Diabetes Association's partnership with Cadbury Schweppes candy and soda company - simply incomprehensible and contrary to all medical sense. Thank goodness some doctors are finally realizing the primary cause of diabesity and heart disease: highly refined sugar, flour and starch, and nothing else. Not fat (a symptom of metabolic illness, not a cause), not portion sizes and not exercise. The American medical system is grossly ignorant and systematically negligent in it's failure to grasp the simplest principles of metabolic nutrition.
Well said, Doc.
In my opinion, Marketers, Lobbyists, and Politicians will bring our once great Republic to its knees -- all for the love of the almighty dollar (or its equivalent monetary device).