The soft drinks giant has found itself under increasing pressure over the last few days after an investigation revealed that they had invested millions in funding studies that claimed there was no link between their drinks and obesity. 

The major expose, which was researched by The Times, showed that there were financial links "more than a dozen British scientists", including government health advisers. 

The investigation comes a few short weeks after it was revealed that Coca Cola had spent $119 million (just over €104 million) on similar partnerships and research in the US. 

The investigation showed that the company spent over €6 million on setting up the European Hydration Institute (EHI), which recommended consuming sports drinks made by the Coca Cola corporation, while they also had links with a huge number of bodies involved in the fight against obesity, including the British Nutrition Foundation, the National Obesity Forum, the British Dietetic Association, and the UK Association for the Study of Obesity.

The investigation is also particularly timely, given that it comes shortly after the UK government decided not to put a tax on sugary foods and drinks despite calls for it from the British Medical Association, the chief medical officer and a number of celebrities, including chef Jamie Oliver. 

Simon Capewell of the Faculty of Public Health said "Coca-Cola is trying to manipulate not just public opinion but policy and political decisions. Its tactics echo those used by the tobacco and alcohol industries, which have also tried to influence the scientific process by funding apparently independent groups", while Marion Nestle of New York University was emphatic on the matter, saying "no scientist should accept funding from Coca-Cola. It’s totally compromising. Period. End of discussion".

Via The Times, The Australian