Have A Coke And See Your Dentist

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's has a new partnership with soft-drink giant Coca-Cola. The $1-million deal involves a research grant to the academy to "support important clinical, basic and behavioral research" and "create public and professional educational programs, based on science, that promote improved dental health for children." The AAPD told Reuters that Coca-Cola "will have no say-so" into the specifics of that research. The non-profit group Center for Science in the Public Interest, however, has criticized AAPD's partnership with the world's largest soft drink manufacture. "Regardless of what the money is used for," CSPI writes, "the grant will make the AAPD a captive of Coca-Cola, making it extremely unlikely that the AAPD will take positions antagonistic to the company, like opposing soft-drink machines in schools, or supporting labeling of the added-sugar content of foods."