Wednesday, November 4, 2009

One of the nation's largest doctors' groups is getting criticized and losing members over its six-figure alliance with the Coca-Cola Co.

The deal will fund educational materials about soft drinks on a health website run by the American Academy of Family Physicians. The group is based in suburban Kansas City, Kan.

The academy's leader, Dr. Douglas Henley, said Wednesday that the deal won't influence the group's public health messages. But critics point to research linking soft drinks with obesity, and they think Coke will try to water that down.

A Coca-Cola spokeswoman says the partnership will provide education based on sound science.