The incursion of ‘Big Food’ in middle-income countries: a qualitative documentary case study analysis of the soft drinks industry in China and India

Critical Public Health

Volumn 25, Issue 4, 2015, Pages 455-473

  Williams, Simon N ^a  

^a NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

Big Food; industry; nutrition; soft drinks

Indexed keywords

ARTICLE; CALORIC INTAKE; CHINA; COMMERCIAL PHENOMENA; ECONOMIC ASPECT; FOOD INDUSTRY; FOOD INTAKE; FOOD PROCESSING; FUNDING; GOVERNMENT; HEALTH CARE POLICY; HEALTH IMPACT ASSESSMENT; HUMAN; INDIA; INFORMATION PROCESSING; MEDICAL RESEARCH; ORGANIZATION AND MANAGEMENT; POLITICS; PUBLIC HEALTH; QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS; RESIDENTIAL AREA; SOFT DRINK;

EID: 84938557599     PISSN: 09581596     EISSN: 14693682     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1080/09581596.2015.1005056     Document Type: Article

References (114)

1. ABA. (2012). Beverage industry responds to PLoS Medicine opinion piece. Retrieved May 17, 2013, from http://www.ameribev.org/news-media/news-releases-statements/more/279/
2. V.Agarwal,. (2010, December 16). What is the future of Lobbying in India? Wall Street Journal (India). Retrieved March 29, 2013, from http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2010/12/16/what-is-the-future-of-lobbying-in-india/
3. Ani. (2014, March 30). Coca-Cola tops most powerful brands list. News Nation. Retrieved May 17, from http://www.newsnation.in/article/36943-coca-cola-tops-most-powerful-brands-list.html
4. Anon. (2010). Sheila Dikshit asks Delhiites to join CWG celebrations. Retrieved May 18, 2012, from http://www.hindustantimes.com/News-Feed/Sport/Sheila-Dikshit-asks-Delhiites-tojoin-CWG-celebrations/Article1-607476.aspx
5. Y.Balarajan,, S.Selvaraj,, & S.Subramanian, (2011). Health care and equity in India. Lancet, 337, 505–515.
6. D.Barnetson, (1986, October 2). Cola war fizzing in India. United Press International.
7. S.Basu, (2015). The transitional dynamics of caloric ecosystems: Changes in the food supply around the world. Critical Public Health, 25. Published Online 27 June 2014. doi:10.1080/09581596.2014.931568
8. S.Basu,, M.McKee,, G.Galea,, & D.Stuckler, (2013). Relationship of soft drink consumption to global overweight, obesity, and diabetes: A cross-national analysis of 75 countries. American Journal of Public Health, 103, 2071–2077.10.2105/AJPH.2012.300974
9. S.Basu,, S.Vellakkal,, S.Agrawal,, D.Stuckler,, B.Popkin,, & S.Ebrahim, (2014). Averting obesity and type 2 diabetes in India through sugar-sweetened beverage taxation: An economic-epidemiologic modeling study. PLoS Medicine, 11, e1001582. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001582
10. R.Bhushan, (2010). Coke, Pepsi join hands for beverage association. The Economic Times (India). Retrieved March 12, 2013, from http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2010-07-05/news/27581124_1_bottlers-energy-drink-maker-iba
11. R.Bhushan, (2011). PepsiCo sales growing twice as fast as Coca-Cola. The Economic Times. Retrieved May 20, 2013, from http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-08-08/news/29864298_1_coca-cola-india-sprite-soft-drinks-market
12. S.Boseley, (2003, January 9). What are fizzy drinks doing to our children? The Guardian. Retrieved April 15, 2012, from http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2003/jan/09/medicineandhealth.publichealth
13. H.Briggs, (2014). WHO: Daily sugar intake ‘should be halved’. Retrieved November 15, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26449497
14. K.Brownell, (2012). Thinking forward: The quicksand of appeasing the food industry. PLoS Medicine, 9, e1001254.10.1371/journal.pmed.1001254
15. K.D.Brownell,, & K.E.Warner, (2009). The perils of ignoring history: Big tobacco played dirty and millions died. How similar is big food? Milbank Quarterly, 87, 259–294.10.1111/milq.2009.87.issue-1
16. Businessweek. (2014). Company overview of Coca-Cola India private limited. Retrieved September 1, from http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/board.asp?privcapId=22818192
17. F.Butterfield (1979, January 30). Differences fade as rivals mingle to Honor Teng. NY Times, p. A1.
18. V.Chacon,, P.Letona,, E.Villamor,, & J.Barnoya, (2015). Snack food advertising in stores around public schools in Guatamala. Critical Public Health, 25. Published online 9 September 2014. doi:10.1080/09581596.2014.953035
19. F.Chaloupka,, A.Yurekli,, & G.Fong, (2012). Tobacco taxes as a tobacco control strategy. Tobacco Control, 21, 172–180.10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2011-050417
20. Chicago Tribune. (1977, November 21). Coca-Cola thirsts for bigger world sales. Chicago Tribune, p. E12.
21. China Business Review. (2010a). Dinner honors fifth anniversary of US-China working group. Retrieved April 15, 2012, from http://www.chinabusinessreview.com/dinner-honors-fifth-anniversary-of-us-china-working-group/
22. China Business Review. (2010b). USCBC welcomes PRC Ambassador Zhang Yesui. Retrieved April 15, 2012, from http://www.chinabusinessreview.com/dinner-honors-fifth-anniversary-of-us-china-working-group/
23. China Business Review. (2011). USCBC hosts luncheon honoring PRC vice president Xi Jinping. Retrieved April 15, 2012, from http://www.chinabusinessreview.com/uscbc-hosts-luncheon-honoring-prc-vice-president-xi-jinping/
24. Coca-Cola. (2007). Political contributions reports, 2007. Retrieved May 10, 2013, from http://politicalaccountability.net/index.php?ht=a/GetDocumentAction/i/7091
25. Coca-Cola. (2008). Political contributions reports, 2008. Retrieved May 10, 2013, from http://politicalaccountability.net/index.php?ht=a/GetDocumentAction/i/7092
26. Coca-Cola. (2009). Political contributions reports, 2009. Retrieved May 10, 2013, from http://politicalaccountability.net/index.php?ht=a/GetDocumentAction/i/7093
27. Coca-Cola. (2010). Political contributions reports, 2010. Retrieved May 10, 2013, from http://politicalaccountability.net/index.php?ht=a/GetDocumentAction/i/7094
28. Coca-Cola. (2011) Political contributions reports, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2013, from http://assets.coca-colacompany.com/6f/a2/e4469d1848cdab7456acaac4ad9e/2011%20PAC%20and%20Corporate%20Political%20Contributions%20Report.pdf
29. Coca-Cola. (2012a). Annual review. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from http://www.coca-colacompany.com/annualreview/2012/pdf/form_10K_2012.pdf
30. Coca-Cola. (2012b). Company history. Retrieved April 15, 2012, from http://www.cocacolaindia.com/ourcompany/company_history.html
31. Coca-Cola. (2013). Press release: The Indian beverage industry will continue to witness double digit growth. Retrieved January 10, 2014, from http://www.coca-colaindia.com/presscenter/IBA-Growth.html
32. Coca-Cola. (2014). Press release: Indian beverage association reacts to the excise duty hike on aerated drinks in the union budget 2014–2015. Retrieved August 10, from http://www.coca-colaindia.com/presscenter/IBA-reacts.html
33. Coca-Cola India. (2012). Newsletter, p. 3. Retrieved March 12, from http://www.cocacolaindia.com/CMS/Asset/newsletter_old.pdf
34. J.Cohen, (1986). The dynamics of the ‘Revolving Door’ on the FCC. American Journal of Political Science, 30, 689–708.10.2307/2111268
35. Corporate Europe Observatory. (2012). The International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), Corporate Lobby Group. Retrieved May 12, 2013, from http://corporateeurope.org/sites/default/files/ilsi-articlefinal.pdf
36. B.Crossette, (1990, February 26). Pepsi is open for business in India. NY Times, p. D4.
37. E.Dal Bo, (2006). Regulatory capture: A review. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 22, 203–225.10.1093/oxrep/grj013
38. L.Dorfman,, A.Cheyne,, L.Friedman,, A.Wadud,, & M.Gottilieb, (2012). Soda and tobacco industry corporate social responsibility campaigns: How do they compare? PLoS Medicine, 9, e1001241.
39. K.Eichenwald, (1985, July 16). Soda, the life of the party. NY Times, p. A23.
40. Euromonitor. (2013). The Coca-Cola company in soft drinks (world). Retrieved March 12, from www.euromonitor.com/
41. Euromonitor International. (2005). Diet soft drinks see fat growth. Retrieved March 18, 2012, from www.euromonitor.com/
42. Euromonitor International. (2010). What if the Chinese were to spend and drink like Americans. Retrieved March 29, 2012, from www.euromonitor.com
43. Euromonitor International. (2011). Global soft drinks: Corporate strategies. Retrieved February 20, 2012, from http://www.euromonitor.com/global-soft-drinks-corporate-strategies/report
44. Euromonitor International. (2013). Dataset: Soft drinks. Retrieved June 5, from www.portal.euromonitor.com
45. FnB News. (2010, May 7). Soft drink makers in Dehli Want VAT rollback. FnBNews.com. Retrieved March 12, 2012, from http://www.fnbnews.com/article/detnew.asp?articleid=27504§ionid=3
46. C.Ghosh,, & A.Ghosh, (2008). Economics of the public sector. Delhi: PHI Learning.
47. A.Gilmore, (2005). Tobacco and transition: Understanding the impact of transition on tobacco use and control in the former soviet union (PhD in Public Health Medicine). London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London. Retrieved from http://repositories.cdlib.org/tc/reports​/SovietUnion/
48. A.Giridharadas, (2006, May 18). India’s new lobbyists use american methods. NY Times. Online. Retrieved March 12, 2012, from http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/18/business/worldbusiness/18ihtlobby.1778893.html?_r=2&pagewanted=all
49. S.D.Guardino,, & R.A.Daynard, (2007). Tobacco industry lawyers as disease vectors. Tobacco Control, 16, 224–228.10.1136/tc.2006.018390
50. E.Guba,. (1981). Criteria for assessing the trustworthiness of naturalistic inquiries. Educational Communication and Technology: A Journal of Theory, Research, and Development, 29, 75–91.
51. N.Gulati,, & R.Ahmed, (2012). India has 1.2 billion people but not enough drink coke. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 29, from http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304870304577490092413939410.html
52. E.U.Igumbor,, D.Sanders,, T.R.Puoane,, L.Tsolekile,, C.Schwarz,, C.Purdy,,.. C.Hawkes, (2012). ‘Big Food’, the consumer food environment, health, and the policy response in South Africa. PLoS Medicine, 9, e1001253. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001253
53. Indian Beverage Association. (2013). IBA Conclave. Retrieved March 20, from http://www.inbeverage.org/conclave.htm
54. India Today. (2014, May 27). Full list of portfolios of ministers in Modi government. IndiaToday. Retrieved May 30, from http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/pm-narendra-modi-cabinet-rajnath-singh-home-arun-jaitley-finance/1/363805.html%20-%20Scene_1
55. International Life Science Institute, Focal Point in China. (2013a). Retrieved March 20, from http://www.ilsi.org/FocalPointinChina/Pages/AboutUs.aspx
56. International Life Sciences Institute, India. (2013b). Committee of scientific advisors. Retrieved March 20, from http://www.ilsi-india.org/PDF/ILSI-India%20Expert%20Committees.pdf
57. International Life Sciences Institute, India. (2014). ILSI-India partners in activities. Retrieved May 15, from http://www.ilsi.org/India/Documents/ILSI-India-Partners-in-Activities.pdf
58. R.Jahiel, (2008). Corporation-induced diseases, upstream epidemiologic surveillance, and urban health. Journal of Urban Health, 85, 517–531.10.1007/s11524-008-9283-x
59. R.Jahiel,, & T.Babor, (2007). Industrial epidemics, public health advocacy and the alcohol industry: Lessons from other fields. Addiction, 102, 335–339.
60. M.Janofsky, (1993, February 25). Coke expand in China, seeking a giant market. NY Times, p. D1.
61. M.Jensen, (1978, April 9). A market thirst never quenched. NY Times, p. F1.
62. L.Joossens,, & M.Raw, (1995). Smuggling and cross border shopping of tobacco in Europe. British Medical Journal, 310, 1393–1397.10.1136/bmj.310.6991.1393
63. L.Joossens,, & M.Raw, (2000). How can cigarette smuggling be reduced? British Medical Journal, 321, 947–950.10.1136/bmj.321.7266.947
64. D.Kamerow, (2010). The case of the sugar sweetened beverage tax. British Medical Journal, 341, c3719.10.1136/bmj.c3719
65. M.Kellerhals, (2012). Congressional leaders meet with China’s Xi Jinping. Retrieved September 16, from http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/article/2012/02/20120215163018elrem0.2514612.html#axzz21ein02QE
66. B.Kelly,, L.King,, B.Jamiyan,, N.Chimedtseren,, B.Bold,, V.Medina,,.. C.Varghese, (2015) Density of outdoor food and beverage advertising around schools in Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) and Manila (The Philippines) and implications for policy. Critical Public Health, 25. Published Online 1 August 2014. doi:10.1080/09581596.2014.940850
67. S.Kleiman,, S.Ng,, & P.Popkin, (2012). Drinking to our health: Can beverage companies cut calories while maintaining profits? Obesity Reviews, 258–274.
68. N.Kleinfield (1978, December 20) Coca-Cola to go on sale in China as US and Peking expand ties. NY Times, p. A1.
69. J.Koten, (1980, March 5). Problems bubble up at Coca-Cola as Austin prepares to step down. Wall Street Journal, p. 1.
70. R.Larsen, (2013). Committees and caucuses: The US-China working group. Retrieved May 10, from http://larsen.house.gov/legisaltive-work/committees-and-caucuses
71. K.Lee,, & J.Collin, (2006). ‘Key to the Future’: British American tobacco and cigarette smuggling in China. PLoS Medicine, 3, 1080–1089.10.1371/journal.pmed.0030228
72. G.Lilien,, & E.Yoon, (1990). The timing of competitive market entry: An exploratory study of new industrial products. Management Science, 36, 568–585.10.1287/mnsc.36.5.568
73. T.Lobstein, (2014). Reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages to reduce the risk of childhood overweight and obesity. Retrieved November 15, from http://www.who.int/elena/titles/commentary/ssbs_childhood_obesity/en/
74. G.Maddox, (2012). The good life: Coke studio went live with a power audience. Retrieved March 20, 2013, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/indiahome/indianews/article-2165674/The-Good-Life-Coke-Studio-went-live-power-audience-led.html
75. M.Maiti, (2011). Coca-Cola feels the heat. Financial Chronicle. Retrieved May 20, 2013, from http://www.mydigitalfc.com/news/coca-cola-feels-heat-935
76. T.Makkai,, & J.Braithwaite, (1992). In and out of the revolving door: Making sense of regulatory capture. Journal of Public Policy, 12, 61–78.
77. T.McNulty (1979, February 1). Teng’s tour: A tiny slice of America: Chopstick-proof meals in a three-city visit. Chicago Tribune, p. 1.
78. V.Mok,, X.Dai,, & G.Yeung, (2002). An Internalization approach to joint ventures: Coca-Cola in China. Asia Pacific Business Review, 9, 39–58.10.1080/713999168
79. C.A.Monteiro,, & G.Cannon, (2012). The impact of transnational ‘Big Food’ companies on the south: A view from Brazil. PLoS Medicine, 9, e1001252. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001252
80. M.Nestle, (2002). Food politics: How the food industry influences nutrition and health. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press.
81. Nestlé (Company). (2011). Annual report. Retrieved May 20, 2012, from http://www.nestle.com/Common/NestleDocuments/Documents/Library/Documents/Annual_Reports/2011-Annual-Report-EN.pdf
82. New Internationalist. (2006). Corporate No-No. Issue 388. Retrieved May 20, 2013, from http://newint.org/columns/currents/2006/04/01/corporate/
83. P.Nolan, (1996). Large firms and industrial reform in former planned economies: The case of China. Cambridge Journal of Economics, 20, 1–29.10.1093/oxfordjournals.cje.a013603
84. NY Times. (1977, September 5). India stands firm against Coca-Cola. NY Times, p. 22.
85. NY Times. (1990, March 22). Coca-Cola rebuffed by India. NY Times, p. D20.
86. C.Orleans,, & J.Slade, (1993). Nicotine addiction: Principles and management. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
87. M.Pendergrast, (2000). For god, country & Coca-Cola: The definitive history of the great American soft drink and the company that makes it. New York, NY: Basic Books.
88. PepsiCo. (2011). Annual report. Retrieved May 20, 2012, from http://www.pepsico.com/annual11/downloads/PEP_AR11_2011_Annual_Report.pdf
89. S.Pillai, (2009, July 16). For a better tomorrow. The Hindu. Retrieved May 17, 2012, from http://www.hindu.com/mp/2009/07/16/stories/2009071651610300.htm
90. P.Pingali, (2007). Westernization of Asian diets and the transformation of food systems: Implications for research and policy. Food Policy, 32, 385–393.
91. B.Popkin, (2012). Global nutrition transition and the pandemic of obesity in developing countries. Nutrition Reviews, 70, 3–21.10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00456.x
92. K.Rangan, (1977, August 9). New York Times, p. 45.
93. J.Ritchie,, & L.Spencer, (2002). Qualitative data analysis in applied policy research. In A.M.Huberman & M.B.Miles (Eds.), The qualitative researcher’s companion (pp. 305–331). London: Sage.
94. P.Sahu,, & A.Kala, (2014, May 27). Meet the man who will try to fix India’s economy. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved May 28, from http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2014/05/27/meet-the-man-who-will-try-to-fix-indias-economy/
95. Y.Saloojee,, & E.Dagli, (2000). Tobacco industry tactics for resisting public policy on health. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 78, 902–910.
96. A.Shenton, (2004). Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects. Education for Information, 22, 63–75.
97. R.Shirane,, K.Smith,, H.Ross,, K.E.Silver,, S.Williams,, & A.Gilmore, (2012). Tobacco industry manipulation of tobacco excise and tobacco advertising policies in the Czech Republic: An analysis of tobacco industry documents. PLoS Medicine, 9, e100124868.
98. K.Smith,, G.Fooks,, J.Collin,, H.Weishaar,, & A.Gilmore, (2010). Is the increasing policy use of Impact assessment in Europe likely to undermine efforts to achieve healthy public policy? Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 64, 478–487.10.1136/jech.2009.094300
99. K.Smith,, E.Savell,, & A.Gilmore, (2013). What is known about tobacco industry efforts to influence tobacco tax? A systematic review of empirical studies. Tobacco Control, 22, 144–153.
100. Soft Drinks International. (2010, August). India: Beverage association is formed. Soft drinks international, p. 16. Wimborne: ASAP Publishing.
101. J.Sterba, (1981, April 16). Coke brings ‘tasty happiness’ to China. NY Times, p. A1.
102. D.Stuckler,, M.McKee,, S.Ebrahim,, & S.Basu, (2012). Manufacturing epidemics: The role of global producers in increased consumption of unhealthy commodities including processed foods, alcohol, and tobacco. PLoS Medicine, 9, e1001235.
103. D.Stuckler,, & M.Nestle, (2012). Big food, food systems, and global health. PLoS Medicine, 9, e1001242. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001242
104. F.Taylor,, A.Satija,, S.Khurana,, G.Singh,, & S.Ebrahim, (2010). Pepsi and Coca Cola in Delhi, India: Availability, price and sales. Public Health Nutrition, 14, 653–660.
105. Telegraph. (2010, July 7). Beverage brethren uncork spirit of unity. The Telegraph (India). Retrieved May 19, 2012, from http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100707/jsp/business/story_12654979.jsp
106. The Economist. (2001, February 15). The gentle art of lobbying in China. Retrieved May 15, 2013, from http://www.economist.com/node/505497
107. Times of India. (2014, July 10). Highlights of union budget 2014. Times of India. Retrieved July 11, from http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/budget-2014/union-budget-2014/Highlights-of-Union-Budget-2014/articleshow/38115864.cms
108. US-China Business Council. (2010, June 2). The US-China business council elects the coca-cola company chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent as Chair; welcomes new board members, officers. Press release. Retrieved March 15, 2012, from https://www.uschina.org/public/documents/2010/06/uscbc-elections.html
109. US-India Business Council. (2012a). The way forward: Business advocacy Agenda. Retrieved August 19, from http://www.usibc.com/sites/default/files/advocacy/files/17148_TheWayForward_NoCrop.pdf
110. US-China Business Council. (2012b). 2012 Meetings and events. Retrieved March 15, from https://www.uschina.org/info/programs/recentpastevents.html
111. Washington Post. (1979, January 24). A half million cokes rolling into China. The Washington Post, p. D7.
112. D.Weisert, (2001, July–August). Coca-Cola in China: Quenching the thirst of a billion. China Business Review. Retrieved August 15, 2012, from https://www.chinabusinessreview.com/public/0107/weisert.html
113. S.Weisman, (1988, March 21). Pepsi sets off a Cola war in India. NY Times, p. D12.
114. World Health Organization. (2014). WHO opens public consultation on draft sugars guideline. Retrieved November 15, from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2014/consultation-sugar-guideline/en/