Coca-Cola helps people make healthy beverage choices

29/07/05 New Zealand, Coca-Cola has released a new guide to help people make healthy beverage choices. It offers real people real solutions on what to choose to drink, as opposed to telling people what they can or can't drink.

The guidelines are a response to the fact that soft drinks are constantly being singled out as the cause of obesity and incorrectly positioned as unsuitable beverage choices for the majority of the population.

Fizzy drinks have been around for 120 years and while moderation is recommended, most people can enjoy them as part of a balanced diet. For those who do want to reduce sugar and energy intake, a huge range of low energy alternatives is available.

Alison Sykora of Coca-Cola Oceania notes that not everyone who drinks soft drinks is overweight.

The NZ Nutrition Foundation has praised the new guide saying "the booklet is full of useful information to guide consumers in appropriate beverage choices". Their CEO, Sue Pollard, also notes that "there is no such thing as a "bad" food or beverage".

The guide was developed in conjunction with dietitians and nutritionists.