A coalition of health and religious organizations led by CommonSpirit Health, including several orders of Sisters and Trinity Health, have presented a proposal urging shareholders of The Coca-Cola Company to vote in favor of a third-party assessment regarding the potential health risks of non-sugar sweeteners (NSSs). The vote is scheduled for Coca-Cola's annual stockholder meeting on May 1, 2024. The assessment, to be completed by November 1, 2024, would evaluate Coca-Cola's efforts to monitor and mitigate health harms associated with NSSs in its products. The proponents of the proposal argue that an unbiased report would increase shareholder confidence, mitigate legal and financial risks, and demonstrate corporate accountability. They express concern over potential bias in industry-funded research...Show More

A coalition of health and religious organizations led by CommonSpirit Health, including several orders of Sisters and Trinity Health, have presented a proposal urging shareholders of The Coca-Cola Company to vote in favor of a third-party assessment regarding the potential health risks of non-sugar sweeteners (NSSs). The vote is scheduled for Coca-Cola's annual stockholder meeting on May 1, 2024. The assessment, to be completed by November 1, 2024, would evaluate Coca-Cola's efforts to monitor and mitigate health harms associated with NSSs in its products. The proponents of the proposal argue that an unbiased report would increase shareholder confidence, mitigate legal and financial risks, and demonstrate corporate accountability. They express concern over potential bias in industry-funded research and the adequacy of current regulatory standards, citing studies that question the safety of NSSs and their association with health issues such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Coca-Cola has previously stated that NSSs can be part of a healthy diet and lifestyle, but the proposal's supporters point to recent WHO recommendations against NSSs for weight control and highlight potential environmental impacts of NSSs.