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 […]
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 […]