The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Hispanic Federation have been accused of selling out to the soft drink industry.

Both the NAACP and the Hispanic Federation have publicly opposed New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s ban on large sodas. The American Beverage Association has sued to stop the new law from taking effect, and the two minority organizations have joined in the fight, saying the soda ban would unfairly “harm freedom of choice in low income communities.”

Critics say the NAACP’s decision may have been influenced by the large donations it has received from Coca-Cola. For example, the Coca-Cola Foundation last month awarded $100,000 to the NAACP’s Project HELP initiative.

And the Hispanic Federation recently lost its president, Lillian Rodriguez Lopez, to Coca-Cola after she accepted a position with the soft drink giant.

Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, which supports Bloomberg’s plan, told Corporate Crime Reporter that “it is sad that disease-promoting companies can influence civic groups by giving them donations.”

The soda rule, scheduled to take effect in March, would ban retail outlets from selling soft drinks in containers that exceed 16 ounces.

-Noel Brinkerhoff

To Learn More:

NAACP Hispanic Federation Fronting for Coca Cola and Liquid Candy (Corporate Crime Reporter)

Beverage Industry, NYC Lawyers Duel Over Drinks (by Jennifer Peltz, Associated Press)

In N.A.A.C.P., Industry Gets Ally Against Soda Ban (by Michael M. Grynbaum, New York Times)

NAACP Gets $100,000 Grant from Coca-Cola Foundation for Project HELP (Coca Cola Foundation)

Parks Director Jarvis, Bowing to Coca-Cola, Halted Plastic Bottle Ban in Grand Canyon (by Noel Brinkerhoff and David Wallechinsky, AllGov)

Save the Children Switches from Soda Tax to Coke and Pepsi (by Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov)