Coca Cola Christmas truck told to stay away from Leicester because of diabetes fears
It seems that the popularity of Coca-Cola’s famous Christmas truck isn’t enough to detract from the mounting pressure over the high levels of sugar in its drinks after the brand was ordered to steer clear of Leicester by the local MP who said it would send the wrong message.
Leicester MP Keith Vaz asked Coca-Cola not to bring its Christmas truck to the city as part of its 46 stop tour of the UK, accusing the brand of of marketing a "real health hazard”.
Vaz, who is himself diabetic, said “I know people like special things happening at Christmas, but Coca-Cola are coming to promote their product and in each can of Coke there are seven teaspoons of sugar.”
The Labour MP insisted that “people will protest against the arrival of this truck and it will not be welcomed in the way in which I think they would have hoped.”
His comments ad to the mounting pressure against the company which has battled to counteract the backlash which stemmed from a damning documentary by TV chef Jamie Oliver over the health implications associated with the drink.
Coca-Cola maintained that it was still coming to Leicester while pointing out that it “operates in line with our responsible marketing policy so we don't sample our drinks directly to under-12s.”
It added that those coming to see the truck could “choose one of the four Coca-Cola variants to enjoy - this includes Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero, our no calorie, no sugar variants."
The truck is due to visit Leicester on 17 December - the final of 46 stops on Coca-Cola Great Britain's Christmas truck tour.