Two pastors have filed suit in Washington D. C. against Coca-Cola claiming that the sugary-soda pop kills more black people than “the streets.”
The complaint was filed in Washington, D.C., Superior Court on Thursday on behalf of William Lamar, the senior pastor at D.C.’s Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church; Delman Coates, the pastor at Maryland’s Mount Ennon Baptist Church; and the public health group Praxis Project.
Pastors William Lamar and Delman Coates and public-health group Praxis, claim in their complaint filed in the D.C. Superior Court Coca-Cola and the ABA engaged in “false, deceptive, and misleading advertising and promotion of sugar-sweetened beverages.”
Lamar, Coates and Praxis say consumers have been duped into believing sugary drinks aren’t so bad for their health by Coca-Cola’s advertising and other outreach efforts. The plaintiffs specifically cite Coca-Cola’s decision to “omit material facts” about the link between sugar and health problems in their advertising and consumers’ lack of knowledge about the dangers of soda.
“Reasonable consumers lack the scientific knowledge necessary to determine that many of Defendants’ representations about sugar-sweetened beverages are false and misleading, including that they omit material facts about the link between such beverages and obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease,” the complaint states.
“It’s become really clear to me that we’re losing more people to the sweets than to the streets,” Coates said, according to a report by the Washington Post. “There’s a great deal of misinformation in our communities, and I think that’s largely a function of these deceptive marketing campaigns.”
The lawsuit alleges the two pastors have repeatedly tried to teach their congregations about the harmful effects of sugar, but have been stymied by Coca-Cola’s advertising.
“Pastor Lamar’s efforts to provide spiritual guidance to congregant families and the larger community regarding the hazards posed by sugarsweetened [sic] beverages are hampered by Defendants’ deceptive marketing, labeling, and sale of Coca-Cola’s sugar-sweetened beverages,” the complaint states.
“Faced with a growing scientific consensus linking sugar-sweetened beverages to obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, Defendants made numerous false and deceptive representations, including … sugar-sweetened beverages’ purported value as healthful sources of hydration for most consumers,” the plaintiffs said in the lawsuit.
Coca-Cola says the plaintiffs’ allegations are “factually meritless.”
“The allegations here are … legally and factually meritless, and we will vigorously defend against them,” Coca-Cola said in a statement.
The plaintiffs’ claims about Americans’ view of sugar is not supported by the available evidence. In fact, most surveys show people believe sugar to be harmful, but choose to consume it anyway. For instance, a Resuters/Ipsos poll of 1,883 adults, conducted in January 2016, found 58 percent of respondents said they have tried to limit their sugar intake within the previous 30 days.
In 2015, a Gallup survey found at least 60 percent of U.S. adults said they “are trying to steer clear” of soda, both regular and diet. Gallup’s results show a marked increase in the proportion of the country that is trying to “avoid” soda. In 2002, the earliest year provided in Gallup’s report, only 41 percent of Americans said they were deliberately choosing to avoid soda products.
Article Sources: Opposing Views
Video Credit: Youtube/LifeZette
This is a perfect example of a case that should never make it into a courtroom. It is absolutely stupid.
Coke has been around for what seems like forever as well as all the other pop drinks, candy bars, snacks, etc. Some sugar is necessary for the body and brain to function properly and in a healthy manner. It’s a well know fact that consuming too much sugar is not healthy. But what is too much? That varies with each individual and lifestyle. It becomes a choice that can only be made by the individual consumer. Not by someone standing on a pulpit or in a courtroom! Even the consumer’s doctor can’t make that choice. He can only advise his/her patient what is thought to be in the best interest of the patient.
I, personally, drink very few sodas. It’s my choice! However, if I want to have a soda, I don’t want someone saying I can’t. These pastors are completely out of line with this one. The case should be thrown out of court and the pastors should have to pay all court costs incurred by the defendant. This a frivolous lawsuit.
Another race “HUSTLE”?
So, what were the four words? The “staff editor” never quotes them. I knew this was click-bait, and usually can resist, but I gave in this time. Live and learn.
“Go [bleep] yo seff”? I think that’s four.
stupid niggers
Hey, Leroy, then don’t drink that evil stuff. Problem solved. (Write it down.)
A lot of them can read or write so that wouldn’t work for a lot of them.
Duh!!!! DON’T DRINK IT!!! Can’t believe a court actually accepted this case. I don’t like artificial sweetener, so I guess I will sue Coke for not using sugar. IT’S CALLED “CHOICE” FOLKS! Seriously.
Don’t like it? Don’t buy it!
Damn, it’s easy to solve some problems.
Don’t like it? Don’t buy it!
It’s easy to solve some problems.
Sorry for the duplicate.
Their intelligence must rival that of a snow pea. Either that, or they are simply greedy men who are hoping to line their pockets. Which one is more likely? You decide.
The CourtHouseWhore who filed the case for these Creatures should be hanged right beside these Creatures.
It will indeed be tossed out, but it still costs many dollars just to defend, file Motions Etc., etc. These two need to learn to Pray for Wisdom & Understanding. They surely must make their congregations proud! (Run away from these two, as fast as you can!)
Planned Parenthood kills black babies at a higher rate. Thank Margaret Sanger.Planned Parenthood did adopt a National Socialist German Workers’ Party program for it’s motto, Auswahlfreiheit. Auswahlfreiheit, the National Socialist German Workers’ Party’s program, was their abortion program. It translates to Freedom Of Choice.
are they saying that coke only kills black people. there is something here we have not been told
Good we hope they put more of whatever it is thats killing the nigger in cokes get rid of as many as we can.
Brothers be lookin fo a pay check!
Onlyjb1 no a paycheck is something you work for and work is a dirty word to them.
So maybe if folks drank more alcohol that would be better? Bottled water is not so good either as there are tiny bits of plastic in the water that end up in your kidneys, tap water has all kinds of chemicals and impurities in it. What are we supposed to do to stay hydrated? Sports drinks in excess are not good for you either!
If you look at what blacks put in their grocery cart the soda is just one of their many problems.
It sounds like Coca Cola owes black’s a reparation payment for every bottle that and their ancestors have drank BLM ! BLM !BLM !!!
This will save over 80% of them just have the federal government not allow them to buy coke with their food stamps.