Our Approach To Research | Company Statement

We agree research transparency and integrity are important. That’s why, since 2016, The Coca-Cola Company has not independently funded research on issues related to health and wellbeing in keeping with research guiding principles that have been posted publicly on our website since that time.

We adopted these guidelines to address questions that can arise when we are the sole funder of this type of research. Additionally, a list of health and wellbeing research funded by The Coca-Cola Company dating back to 2010 has been disclosed on our transparency website for nearly four years. Research funded by The Coca-Cola Company and disclosed on our site is expected to be conducted in accordance with our publicly stated approach to funding scientific research, including the fact that we do not have the right to prevent the publication of research results, nor do we provide funding conditioned on the outcome of the research.

Our full scientific research approach, disclosed here, is as follows:

Our Approach to Funding Scientific Research:

For all health and wellbeing research funding disclosed, the researchers:

• Are expected to conduct research that is factual, transparent and designed objectively;
• Are expected to generate an appropriately phrased hypothesis and to conduct research that will answer the relevant questions, rather than favor a particular outcome;
• Have full control of the study design, execution and the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data;
• Are encouraged to publish; and
• Are expected to disclose their funding sources in all publications and public presentations of the data. In no event does The Coca-Cola Company have the right to prevent the publication of research results. Nor does The Coca-Cola Company provide funding conditioned on the outcome of the research.

In addition, we’ve continued our journey to be a more helpful and effective partner in efforts to address the serious problem of obesity around the world. We’ve listened and learned from the public health community, our customers, associates and our consumers to understand the most appropriate role we can play to support the fight against obesity in a way that is credible, transparent, and beneficial for everyone. Today our focus is on reducing sugar in our drinks and promoting more no- and low-sugar options as we work to support the World Health Organization’s recommendation that people limit added sugars to 10% of their daily caloric intake.