FIZZY DRINKS

That this House is alarmed by a recent review by Dr Philippe De Wals' finding that studies funded by soft drinks companies were more likely to conclude that soft drinks did not have a major role in obesity; notes that of the 17 papers reviewed, four were funded by the drinks industry and concluded that evidence to suggest that soft drinks had a major role in obesity was weak; further notes that the other studies generally considered the evidence to be well-founded; recognises that a can of Coke contains around eight teaspoons of sugar and 139 calories; and calls on the Department of Health to commission an independent study into the effects of soft drinks on levels of obesity.