Finnish health expert helps Pepsi withdrawal from schools

Soft drink manufacturer Pepsi has announced plans to withdraw its high-calorie soda drinks from across the world’s schools by 2012.

Finland’s Pekka Puska, the National Institute for Health and Welfare Director General, was instrumental in the negotiations with Pepsi and claimed the move was one step in the right direction.

Puska has made a name for himself over the years for his education of Finns into healthy healthier eating practices. He first came to prominence in the 1970’s; after a rapid rise in cardiovascular disease in the North Karelia area led him to spearhead a major campaign to eliminate fat and salt from the region’s dining tables. Puska, who is also the World Heart Federation president, has now turned his attention to removing sugary drinks from the world’s educational facilities.

Puska claimed that following negotiations, Pepsi had agreed to remove all full-calorie soda drinks from schools across the world. Rival Coca-Cola has, in response, said that it will halt supplies of high-sugar soft drinks into primary schools.

“We’ve been involved in difficult discussions for a few years, but now the big companies are ready to budge,” says Puska. However, while growing concerns over diabetes and childhood obesity were behind the move, the sugary drink removal will not extend to artificially sweetened products that are sold in schools.

“Public pressure by various governments is growing,” claims Puska, who added that business models used by soft drink companies have been forced into review following recent decisions. He has expressed hopes that Pepsi’s lead will encourage other soft drink manufacturers to follow suit, despite arguments from some schools that such offerings are in high demand from students.

According to YLE, one in four middle schools in Finland features a soda dispenser.