Coke Cans Weber Shandwick, Cries over Spilt Milk

The Coca-Cola Company has terminated a 15-year long working relationship with the global PR firm Weber Shandwick. The makers of Coke objected to the PR firm helping run a campaign for the Milk Processors Education Program (MilkPEP), a project funded by dairy companies. As part of the MilkPEP campaign, a January 8 media release stated that "experts say that nutrient-poor, sweetened beverages are a problem because they can push nutrient-rich beverages out of the diet -- including low-fat and fat-free milk." In a statement to PR Week, Coke described this as "a direct, inappropriate and misguided attack on our industry."