Coca-Cola fizzes over junk food ban

Coca-Cola fizzes over junk food ban

Letters obtained by the BBC's Freedom of Information Unit have revealed that Coca-Cola warned the education secretary it might withdraw its vending machines network from schools over her ban on "junk food".

The company told her last November that the proposed ending of fizzy drinks sales would make the business unviable. It said schools would lose money and pupils would suffer from the removal of such "a highly efficient country-wide beverage distribution system". The minister, Ruth Kelly, declined Coca-Cola's request for a meeting.

Coca-Cola threat to quit schools (BBC website, 3 March 2006)