New Rule: Stop Letting Coke and Pepsi Buy Their Way Into Your Heart

It’s time for a New Rule: If you’re a health organization like the American Heart Association, you don’t get to cozy up to Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, take their money, and then lecture us about “moderation” like it’s some yoga retreat mantra. This isn’t about sipping a little soda while doing jumping jacks—it’s about a 39-gram sugar bomb in a can of Coke or a 41-gram gut-punch in a Pepsi, pretending it’s just like Mom’s lemonade. Spoiler alert: it’s not. Comparing Coke to homemade lemonade is like saying, “Hey, just go a few rounds with Mike Tyson, it’ll be fine!” Yeah, except Mike’s gonna rearrange your face faster than you can say “high fructose corn syrup.”

Let’s get real. These soda giants have been slipping cash to health groups like the AHA for years, and it’s not because they love cardiograms. According to a 2016 study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, from 2011 to 2015, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo sponsored 95 health organizations, including the AHA. That’s right—95 groups who should be telling you to run from soda like it’s a bad Tinder date. Coca-Cola alone dropped $118 million on health partnerships during that time, with the AHA pocketing enough to make you wonder if their logo should come with a free Sprite. PepsiCo wasn’t far behind, though they played coy with the receipts. Why? Because it buys them a halo. It’s corporate cosplay—dress up as a health ally, push “moderation” and “exercise,” and suddenly nobody notices you’re selling liquid diabetes.

Now, these companies love to preach balance. “Drink our soda, but, you know, jog a little!” Sounds great until you realize a 12-ounce can of Coke has 39 grams of sugar—more than a day’s worth for most adults, per the AHA’s own guidelines (36 grams for men, 25 for women). Pepsi’s got 41 grams, just to one-up the competition. That’s not moderation; that’s a sugar tsunami. Compare that to Mom’s lemonade—maybe 10-15 grams of sugar per glass, no artificial junk, no caffeine to jitter you into next week. Saying Coke’s fine in moderation is like telling you to wrestle a grizzly bear, but, you know, just for a minute. Good luck walking away without a few scars—or in this case, a higher risk of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. The AHA itself says sugary drinks are a leading driver of these diseases, yet they’ve taken soda money while waving the “healthy lifestyle” flag. Hypocrisy much?

Here’s where it gets juicy, and not in a refreshing way. While the AHA was cashing checks, Coke and Pepsi were lobbying against 29 public health bills from 2011 to 2015, per that same 2016 study. We’re talking soda taxes, marketing restrictions—stuff that could actually cut consumption. Coke spent over $6 million a year on lobbying, Pepsi over $3 million, and their trade group, the American Beverage Association, threw in another million-plus. They even backed a bill to keep Diet Coke ads in schools while limiting other sodas, because apparently zero-sugar branding makes it all okay. Meanwhile, the AHA stayed quiet, or worse, played along. In 2014, they supported that school marketing bill, giving a nod to Diet Coke like it’s the kale of beverages. Diet Coke’s no saint either—artificial sweeteners have their own baggage—but it’s a slick way to keep the Coke logo in kids’ faces.

Fast forward to 2025, and the AHA’s still got PepsiCo in its corner, listed as a member of their Food System Transformation Alliance for a cool $15,000 a year. What’s the vibe? “Sustainable nutrition.” Sure, because nothing screams sustainability like a Mountain Dew Code Red. Just last year, the AHA tripped over itself in Texas, initially opposing a bill to stop SNAP benefits from buying sugary drinks. X users blew up, with posts like, “AHA’s on the soda payroll!” and “Heart health, my ass!” They backtracked, calling it a “miscommunication,” but the damage was done. When you’ve got a history of soda money, people smell a rat. And they’re not wrong to sniff.

Look, nobody’s saying the AHA doesn’t do good work—research, advocacy, saving lives. But taking soda cash is like letting a fox guard the henhouse, then acting shocked when feathers fly. Back in 2015, Coca-Cola got busted for funding the Global Energy Balance Network, a sham that pushed exercise over diet to dodge obesity blame. The AHA wasn’t directly tied, but they were swimming in the same soda-funded pool. When Save the Children got $5 million from Coke and Pepsi, they mysteriously dropped soda tax support. Coincidence? Maybe, but it’s a pattern. As Cardiovascular Business reported in 2016, the AHA cut ties with Coke by year’s end, but PepsiCo’s still lingering like a bad ex.

Imagine you’re at a boxing match. In one corner, Mom’s lemonade—light, natural, a little tart, like a first kiss. In the other, Coca-Cola and Pepsi, strutting in with 40 grams of sugar, artificial flavors, and enough caffeine to wake a coma patient. The ref’s the AHA, supposed to call a fair fight. But the ref’s got soda money in their pocket, whispering, “Just take a sip, it’s all about balance!” Next thing you know, you’re flat on the mat, wondering why your heart’s racing and your dentist is on speed dial. Moderation? That’s for mom’s lemonade, not a chemical cocktail that makes Tyson’s uppercut look gentle.

The outrage is real, and it’s not just a few venting. Health experts like Marion Nestle have called out these partnerships for years, saying they’re a “sweet deal” for soda companies, not public health. A 2016 New York Times piece on Coke’s funding scandal quoted critics slamming health groups for giving soda brands a “health halo.” Even the AHA’s own guidelines scream “cut the sugar,” yet they’ve danced with the devil in a syrup-soaked tuxedo. It’s not just about the money—it’s about trust. When you’re the voice of heart health, you don’t get to play footsie with the guys spiking America’s blood sugar.

So, New Rule: AHA, kick Coke and Pepsi to the curb. Tell them to keep their “moderation” fairy tale and their lobbying millions. You want to talk healthy lifestyles? Start with a clean slate, not a vending machine. And for the rest of us, next time someone offers you a Coke and says “it’s fine in moderation,” hand them a glass of Mom’s lemonade and say, “Punch me with this instead—at least I’ll get up smiling.”

Sources:

• American Journal of Preventive Medicine (2016), “Public Health Organizations’ Sponsorship by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo.”
• Cardiovascular Business (Oct 10, 2016), “Coke, Pepsi Provide Sponsorship Money to ACC, AHA and 93 Other Health Organizations.”
• New York Times (2016), on Coca-Cola’s health funding controversies.
• AHA Dietary Guidelines (accessed 2025).
• X posts (2025), reflecting public criticism of AHA’s SNAP stance and soda ties.
• PepsiCo’s 2025 AHA Food System Transformation Alliance membership.
• Coca-Cola and PepsiCo nutritional data (39g sugar in 12oz Coke, 41g in 12oz Pepsi).