Is it just me, or does anyone else find it “odd” that the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) would form a “consumer alliance partnership” with the Coca-Cola Company? According to its website, www.aafp.org, the vision statement of AAFP is:
“AAFP’s Vision is to transform health care to achieve optimal health for everyone.”
Now, on the AAFP’s website, www.familydoctor.org, the organization discusses its consumer alliance program and states in part:
“The American Academy of Family Physicians is partnering with consumer products companies to develop robust new programs and educational materials for consumers and medical professionals about making better choices with regard to nutrition, . . .” (bold emphasis added).
Let’s see. If the Coca-Cola Company is providing financial support to the AAFP to develop educational materials for consumers about making better choices regarding nutrition, I wonder if the AAFP will be strongly motivated to develop”educational materials for consumers” objectively discussing “making better choices with regard to nutrition” when it comes to consuming sugar-laden carbonated beverages, which all objective health professionals would strongly discourage. Or, could that consumer alliance with the Coca-Cola Company somehow influence the subjects which the AAFP chooses to discuss regarding nutritional choices.
And what about that AAFP vision statement to “achieve optimal health for everyone?” Exactly where would the said sugar-laden carbonated beverage fit into that vision? Hmmm. Perhaps I am getting cynical in my old age.
