Extortion. That’s what people called it—and that’s certainly what it was. Big Soda just held California hostage and won. Last month, the American Beverage Association, whose largest contributors include Coca-Cola and Pepsi, bullied California legislators into signing a bill to ban all local sugary drink taxes in the state until 2031 (read more in […]
by Shaniece Alexander and Anna Lappé, East Bay Express Extortion. That’s what people called it—and that’s certainly what it was. Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and other beverage giants just held California hostage and won. The American Beverage Association, whose largest contributors include those two companies, raised most of the $8 million dollars backing a November ballot measure that […]
Dear friends, Christina and I are excited to share with you our oped from today’s New York Times, about the battle against Big Soda. In it, we offer our take on how taxes on sugary drinks are one tool to take on this indomitable industry. While more and more people are coming to see the […]
The sugary drinks tax approved by Cook County—home to one of the nation’s largest cities, Chicago—can move forward, despite Big Soda attempts to block implementation in the courts. As our colleagues at Healthy Food America said in the wake of the ruling, “We are pleased that Cook County is a step closer to making a real difference in the health of its […]
Originally published in Civil Eats By Anna Lappé on November 10, 2016 As we begin to sort through the post-election rubble, it’s worth taking a close look at what happened with soda taxes at the ballot box. This year, Big Soda spent nearly $39 million to stop taxes on sugary beverages in five U.S. cities. […]
Originally published in The Examiner San Francisco October 16, 2016 OAKLAND, CA – Even as the evidence is clear that their products are making us sick, soda giants— Coke, Pepsi, Dr Pepper-Snapple — are spending millions to try to stop us from doing anything about it. How sick? When UCLA published its findings of diabetes and […]