Critics say diet drink labels areforum for false advertising

Stephen Voltz (left) and Fritz Grobe create a geyser effect from a combination of diet soda and Mentos

mints. Photo: AP Photo/Diane Bondareff

WASHINGTON — Recent research suggests that diet soft drinks may actually

cause weight gain. Now, a new group is charging Coca-Cola and PepsiCo with

false advertising.

The California-based group is known as Right to Know. It is calling on the

government to stop the companies from labeling their drinks with the word

“diet.”

Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi are "advertised to make us think they assist in weight

loss,” the group said. "In fact ample scientific evidence suggests that this is not

true, and the opposite may well be true."

Soda Makers Disagree With Claims

The American Beverage Association represents soda makers. It strongly denied

Right to Know's claims. It said numerous studies show that diet sodas are very

helpful as part of an overall weight-loss plan.

By McClatchy Washington Bureau, adapted by Newsela staff on 04.16.15

Word Count 490

Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and other soda and food makers use artificial sweeteners

instead of natural sugars. They claim the sweeteners are not fattening, even

though they taste sugary. Switching to sodas containing artificial sweeteners

can help people lose weight, they say.

Aspartame is the most popular sugar substitute. It is used in more than 5,000

products.

Both Diet Coke and Diet Pepsi contain aspartame. The artificial sweetener has

been mainly sold under the brand name NutraSweet and is consumed

worldwide.

Several Studies Show Diet Drinks Don't Help People Lose Weight

A number of recent studies have challenged the belief that artificial sweeteners

help with weight loss. One example is a two-year study of 164 children. It found

that overweight kids drank more diet sodas than normal-weight children.

Another nationwide study looked at more than 10,000 children ages 9 to 14. It

found that drinking diet soda caused weight gains among boys.

However, not all scientists are convinced. In particular, they challenge the idea

that the sweeteners cause weight gain. Dr. James O. Hill is one of the scientists

who do not agree. He has conducted his own study of artificial sweeteners.

“I am absolutely convinced that there’s no way they are causing weight gain,”

Hill said. Drinking diet sodas is "not something people should worry about,” he

added.

Government Agency Fights False Advertising

Hill's own study found that people who drank diet soda lost more weight than

those who drank water. Hill admitted he had gotten hundreds of thousands of

dollars from the American Beverage Association to pay for the study. However,

he said the Association had not tried to influence his research findings.

Right to Know admits that not all research studies agree. However, it said that

studies paid for by soda makers are "less trustworthy" than those paid for

independently.

The Food and Drug Administration is the government agency that is in charge of

food labeling. The Trade Commission watches over advertising claims. Neither

would comment on Right to Know's charge against the soda companies.

However, Trade Commission spokesman Peter Kaplan said the agency is

always on the lookout for false advertising. The agency is particularly concerned

with false health claims, Kaplan added.

Quiz

1 How does the author elaborate on Right to Know's claim that diet sodas do not lead

to weight loss?

(A) giving examples of health problems

(B) telling stories about weight loss

(C) citing statistics from a study

(D) citing scientists who performed a study

2 Fill in the blank in the sentence below.

In the section "Soda Makers Disagree With Claims," the author supports artificial

sweeteners and sugar substitutes by describing . . . . . . . . .

(A) the benefits of sugar over artificial sweeteners.

(B) the dangers associated with sugar consumption.

(C) the broad availability of products with artificial sweeteners.

(D) the delicious taste of products with artificial sweeteners

3 Which statement would PepsiCo agree with, but Right to Know would not?

(A) Replacing regular soda with diet soda is a healthy choice.

(B) Replacing aspartame with sugar is a healthy choice.

(C) Diet soda should not be used in a weight-loss plan.

(D) Diet soda can help some people lose weight.

4 Fill in the blank in the sentence below to explain the point of view of the group Right

to Know.

According to the article, the group Right to Know believes that . . . . . . . .

(A) aspartame is not actually a sugar substitute.

(B) companies should not pay for scientific studies.

(C) beverage makers are lying about what is in diet soda.

(D) beverage makers are lying about the healthiness of diet soda.

Answer Key

1 How does the author elaborate on Right to Know's claim that diet sodas do not lead

to weight loss?

(A) giving examples of health problems

(B) telling stories about weight loss

(C) citing statistics from a study

(D) citing scientists who performed a study

2 Fill in the blank in the sentence below.

In the section "Soda Makers Disagree With Claims," the author supports artificial

sweeteners and sugar substitutes by describing . . . . . . . . .

(A) the benefits of sugar over artificial sweeteners.

(B) the dangers associated with sugar consumption.

(C) the broad availability of products with artificial sweeteners.

(D) the delicious taste of products with artificial sweeteners

3 Which statement would PepsiCo agree with, but Right to Know would not?

(A) Replacing regular soda with diet soda is a healthy choice.

(B) Replacing aspartame with sugar is a healthy choice.

(C) Diet soda should not be used in a weight-loss plan.

(D) Diet soda can help some people lose weight.

4 Fill in the blank in the sentence below to explain the point of view of the group Right

to Know.

According to the article, the group Right to Know believes that . . . . . . . .

(A) aspartame is not actually a sugar substitute.

(B) companies should not pay for scientific studies.

(C) beverage makers are lying about what is in diet soda.

(D) beverage makers are lying about the healthiness of diet soda.