Cameron Diaz slammed for claiming smoking is healthier than Diet Coke

Cameron Diaz has been slammed for claiming that cigarettes are healthier than Diet Coke.

The 41-year-old American actress has been criticised by anti-smoking charities for commenting that "one cigarette once in a while is not going to kill you" but "Diet Coke is bad news", the Mirror reported.

Diaz, who used to smoke up to 20 a day and quit as she feared she was setting a bad example, was speaking to host Chelsea Lately to promote her bestseller 'The Body Book' when she made the comments.