Coke ending sponsorship of dietitians group

NEW YORK (AP) — Coca-Cola says it will not renew its sponsorship of a professional group for dietitians, bringing to a halt one of the many outreach efforts on health by the world's biggest soda maker.

The Atlanta-based company said its decision was driven by its "budget realities," rather than criticism over such partnerships. It said it will also not renew current contracts with the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Cardiology when they end this year. The groups were informed of the decision earlier this summer, the company said today.

The maker of Sprite, Dasani and Powerade has been working to slash costs as it faces pressure from investors to improve its financial performance.

The decision not to renew contracts with the various groups also comes as Coca-Cola has come under fire for its funding of programs and partnerships on health matters. Critics say the company uses such outreach to try and downplay the role of sugary drinks in fueling obesity, in some cases by shifting the focus to the need for more physical activity.

Last week, Coca-Cola disclosed that it spent $118.6 million since 2010 to fund a wide array of organizations and experts related to health and nutrition matters. The disclosure was part of the company's pledge to be more transparent after it faced criticism following a New York Times story that detailed its financial support for a group called the Global Energy Balance Network.