CSE urges govt to take steps to reduce soft drink consumption

NEW DELHI: Expressing concern over big companies investing huge amounts of money to maximise consumption of soft drinks in India, a green body today said the country must take steps to protect public health.

Citing a recent campaign launched by a US-based NGO against the sweetened beverages, Centre for Science and Environment ( CSE) said the sugar drinks are causing 1,84,000 deaths worldwide per year.

"With companies investing billions of dollars to maximise consumption of sugary soft drinks in India, as well as other low- and middle-income countries, those nations must take steps to protect public health," Chandra Bhushan, deputy director general, CSE, said.

A new study has estimated that sugar drinks are causing 1,84,000 deaths worldwide per year. Diabetes is the greatest cause of deaths (1,33,000), followed by heart disease (45,000), the statement by CSE said.

Hailing the campaign launched by the US-based NGO against sugar drinks, CSE said, "The new video is health advocates' latest salvo in their campaign to reduce the incidence of obesity and other soda-related diseases around the world."

As part of the campaign, a spoof titled 'Change of Tune' which is a remake of a famous soft drink advertisement, has been released which features people suffering from diabetes, tooth decay, weight gain and other diseases related to soda pop consumption.