We’ve written recently about the political-style smear campaigns aimed at bashing sugar-sweetened beverages. The TV, radio and transit ad campaigns – funded by taxpayer dollars from the federal stimulus act, which were intended to create and preserve jobs – are just the latest attack by some in city health departments across the country who manipulate data to mislead the people they serve.
The issue is getting more attention lately. Yesterday, the Heritage Foundation posted a column on their website about the attack ads in an article titled “Obama Administration Uses Stimulus Money to Support Ads Attacking Soda.” An excerpt from the column reads as follows:
“The 2009 economic stimulus, of course, was sold to Congress as a $787 billion package to revive the economy by creating or saving millions of jobs. And while some of the money for these anti-obesity efforts could arguably create temporary jobs — such as construction of a bike path or walking trail — there’s growing concern about the use of the money for advertisements.”
And recently others, including Members of Congress, have picked up on the issue, too.
Last week, we read an Op-Ed by U.S. Representative Dr. Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn) that ran in The Chattanoogan (“Why the Rush to Waste Taxpayer Dollars”). We blogged about this a few days ago, but if you still haven’t had a moment to read the piece, check it out by clicking here.
For more information on the stimulus funded anti-soda ad campaigns check in with Smart Taxpayers Exposing Waste (STEW) on Facebook and Twitter. And remember to keep checking in with us here at Sip & Savor for the latest beverage industry news.
