Pepsi, Coke pledge not to sell sugary colas in schools

Global cola majors Pepsi and Coca-Cola have decided not to sell their high-calorie sugary products in primary and secondary schools across the globe.

In a statement, PepsiCo said it was voluntarily adopting a new global policy to stop sales of full-sugar soft drinks to primary and secondary schools by 2012.

“We have long advocated for school settings to be made as conducive as possible to promote health of students... (it) will serve as an important part of that mission, by expanding our offerings of low-calorie and nutritious beverages,” PepsiCo CEO and Chairman Indira Nooyi said.

PepsiCo said it would work with its bottlers, vending companies and distributors — in collaboration with parents, community leaders and school officials around the world — to offer low-calorie beverages for primary and secondary schools. PepsiCo’s move follows an announcement made by the Coca- Cola that it would make itself fully compliant with its global school beverages guideline by 2013, under which it would not offer beverages for sale in primary schools, unless asked by parents or school authorities.