Dear Ms Nooyi
This letter is a gentle reminder of a promise you made in the March of 2010 through a public announcement that your esteemed company , PepsiCo, is voluntarily adopting a new global policy by stopping sales of full-sugar soft drinks to primary and secondary schools by 2012. I believe when you planned this policy, you meant 2012 and not 2013 for we are about to Enter the New Year In a couple of months and to our utter disappointment, you haven't fulfilled your promise till date.
Today, when junk food and sugar-loaded soft drinks are being shunned and banned in the schools globally to prevent our children from poor health and obesity, ma'am, I would have really appreciated your contribution as a savior towards this epidemic "Obesogenic" situation. The campaign to make schools "junk-free" is catching fire all over the world. Activists, doctors, media and a lot of celebrity chefs have immensely criticized sportsmen and celebrities like filmstars for endorsing junk food and colas. Their involvement with such brands has an inevitable and severe impact on kids, who wish to be like them and follow their heroes blindly.
Don't you feel the heat of the situation? Don't the harmful effects of junk food horrify you? India being the "Diabetes Capital of the World" and cancer being the second terrifying disease engulfing Indians don't bother you? Are you ready to be a part of this mayhem? Wouldn't you like to contribute towards helping this situation for the sake of the children, our children, your children? I feel that with timely fulfillment of your promise, PepsiCo could have emerged as exemplary for promoting healthy food and disease-free life among kids.
Although we have made sure that no school shall be selling unhealthy or junk food and colas across India based on Public Interest Litigation filed by us in the Delhi High Court against consumption of Junk Food in Schools. And you will be happy to note that the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has already started the work for framing guidelines to make available quality and safe food at schools across the country by March of 2013, but we still feel that you should fulfill your promise and make a graceful exit from schools.
According to the reply filed by FSSAI in the Hon'ble Delhi High Court that there are more than 8 lakh primary and upper primary schools spread all over the country, imparting education to more than 12 crore children and we strongly believe that all these children will have access to healthy and nutritious food along with a happy future.
Ma'am, I understand that PepsiCo is one of the largest manufacturers of beverages and snacks globally. And I appreciate the fact that PepsiCo has also dedicated itself for offering a broad array of choices for healthy, convenient and nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, but I am surprised with the delay about the commitment made by you publicly as till date there is no news of stopping sales of full-sugar soft drinks to primary and secondary schools anywhere in India.
These were your words that you have long advocated for school settings to be made as conducive as possible to promoting good health among students, and you have programs under way with school authorities in several countries to do that. This includes restoring or expanding physical education and promoting nutritional education. This global policy will definitely serve as an important part of that mission, by expanding our offerings of low-calorie and nutritious beverages but, ma'am, I am sorry to say that none of these statements impress us as a majority of common citizens like me believe in actions over speeches and unfulfilled commitments.
Obesity is a health epidemic not only across our country but globally and we have a responsibility as individuals and as society to do whatever we can to promote good nutrition and healthy eating habits so that we can reverse this alarming trend. A study conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, among children in the age group of 14-18 found 17% of children to be obese or overweight. A similar study by Fortis Hospital, Delhi, found that 28% of school kids in the city are obese, whereas a research in urban areas of southern India revealed 21% of boys and 18% of girls between 13 and 18 years, to be obese.
School canteens have a social responsibility towards the health and growth of children, and in inculcating healthy eating. They could be used as places to motivate children to consume healthy and hygienic food. However, it really saddens me that through massive billion-dollar advertising campaigns, corporates have laid claim to children's imagination and virtually insinuated themselves into every corner of children's lives. Today, children eat food designed for the health of corporate balance sheets rather than their own health.
The situation is alarming and needs quick action. We all are facing the harmful effects of junk food consumption like allergies, hair fall, poor stamina, digestive issues and adult diseases like, blood pressure, poor concentration, and hormonal disorders in our daily life.
We expect that your company is not only working towards getting good financial returns but also understands its moral responsibility towards mankind and society as a whole. Replacing full-sugar soft drinks from schools with healthy snacks and low-calorie nutritious beverages is a commendable idea. You are quite popular for your involvement by sponsoring the various programs, events and campaigns organized by schools in India and this step of yours will not only put you on a high moral ground but also enhance your reputation globally.
We as a non-profit expect/understand that you are really concerned about the health of children by taking a pledge of leaving the school canteens this year and will definitely fulfill your promise by ensuring the placement of low-calorie, low-sugar content and high nutritional value products on the school canteen racks.
Ma'am, we grew up on your company's products, enjoyed them, endorsed them and also gifted you heavy balance sheets every year. Today, we want a gift from you, a strong commitment that you will fulfill your promise by the 28th of October, so we can have a wonderful and healthy gift on your birthday.
P.S. "Happy Birthday"
Warm Regards
Rahul Verma
Co-founder
Uday Foundation for Congenital Defects and Rare Blood Groups.
(The Uday Foundation has grown from what was essentially a handful of parents and doctors of babies with birth defects to a nonprofit fully dedicated to children, health and human rights. Its main aim is to provide support services to children afflicted with congenital defects, critical disorders, syndromes, and diseases that affect their health condition, education and growth.)
This letter is a gentle reminder of a promise you made in the March of 2010 through a public announcement that your esteemed company , PepsiCo, is voluntarily adopting a new global policy by stopping sales of full-sugar soft drinks to primary and secondary schools by 2012. I believe when you planned this policy, you meant 2012 and not 2013 for we are about to Enter the New Year In a couple of months and to our utter disappointment, you haven't fulfilled your promise till date.
Today, when junk food and sugar-loaded soft drinks are being shunned and banned in the schools globally to prevent our children from poor health and obesity, ma'am, I would have really appreciated your contribution as a savior towards this epidemic "Obesogenic" situation. The campaign to make schools "junk-free" is catching fire all over the world. Activists, doctors, media and a lot of celebrity chefs have immensely criticized sportsmen and celebrities like filmstars for endorsing junk food and colas. Their involvement with such brands has an inevitable and severe impact on kids, who wish to be like them and follow their heroes blindly.
Don't you feel the heat of the situation? Don't the harmful effects of junk food horrify you? India being the "Diabetes Capital of the World" and cancer being the second terrifying disease engulfing Indians don't bother you? Are you ready to be a part of this mayhem? Wouldn't you like to contribute towards helping this situation for the sake of the children, our children, your children? I feel that with timely fulfillment of your promise, PepsiCo could have emerged as exemplary for promoting healthy food and disease-free life among kids.
Although we have made sure that no school shall be selling unhealthy or junk food and colas across India based on Public Interest Litigation filed by us in the Delhi High Court against consumption of Junk Food in Schools. And you will be happy to note that the Food Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has already started the work for framing guidelines to make available quality and safe food at schools across the country by March of 2013, but we still feel that you should fulfill your promise and make a graceful exit from schools.
According to the reply filed by FSSAI in the Hon'ble Delhi High Court that there are more than 8 lakh primary and upper primary schools spread all over the country, imparting education to more than 12 crore children and we strongly believe that all these children will have access to healthy and nutritious food along with a happy future.
Ma'am, I understand that PepsiCo is one of the largest manufacturers of beverages and snacks globally. And I appreciate the fact that PepsiCo has also dedicated itself for offering a broad array of choices for healthy, convenient and nourishment, reducing our environmental impact, but I am surprised with the delay about the commitment made by you publicly as till date there is no news of stopping sales of full-sugar soft drinks to primary and secondary schools anywhere in India.
These were your words that you have long advocated for school settings to be made as conducive as possible to promoting good health among students, and you have programs under way with school authorities in several countries to do that. This includes restoring or expanding physical education and promoting nutritional education. This global policy will definitely serve as an important part of that mission, by expanding our offerings of low-calorie and nutritious beverages but, ma'am, I am sorry to say that none of these statements impress us as a majority of common citizens like me believe in actions over speeches and unfulfilled commitments.
Obesity is a health epidemic not only across our country but globally and we have a responsibility as individuals and as society to do whatever we can to promote good nutrition and healthy eating habits so that we can reverse this alarming trend. A study conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, among children in the age group of 14-18 found 17% of children to be obese or overweight. A similar study by Fortis Hospital, Delhi, found that 28% of school kids in the city are obese, whereas a research in urban areas of southern India revealed 21% of boys and 18% of girls between 13 and 18 years, to be obese.
School canteens have a social responsibility towards the health and growth of children, and in inculcating healthy eating. They could be used as places to motivate children to consume healthy and hygienic food. However, it really saddens me that through massive billion-dollar advertising campaigns, corporates have laid claim to children's imagination and virtually insinuated themselves into every corner of children's lives. Today, children eat food designed for the health of corporate balance sheets rather than their own health.
The situation is alarming and needs quick action. We all are facing the harmful effects of junk food consumption like allergies, hair fall, poor stamina, digestive issues and adult diseases like, blood pressure, poor concentration, and hormonal disorders in our daily life.
We expect that your company is not only working towards getting good financial returns but also understands its moral responsibility towards mankind and society as a whole. Replacing full-sugar soft drinks from schools with healthy snacks and low-calorie nutritious beverages is a commendable idea. You are quite popular for your involvement by sponsoring the various programs, events and campaigns organized by schools in India and this step of yours will not only put you on a high moral ground but also enhance your reputation globally.
We as a non-profit expect/understand that you are really concerned about the health of children by taking a pledge of leaving the school canteens this year and will definitely fulfill your promise by ensuring the placement of low-calorie, low-sugar content and high nutritional value products on the school canteen racks.
Ma'am, we grew up on your company's products, enjoyed them, endorsed them and also gifted you heavy balance sheets every year. Today, we want a gift from you, a strong commitment that you will fulfill your promise by the 28th of October, so we can have a wonderful and healthy gift on your birthday.
P.S. "Happy Birthday"
Warm Regards
Rahul Verma
Co-founder
Uday Foundation for Congenital Defects and Rare Blood Groups.
(The Uday Foundation has grown from what was essentially a handful of parents and doctors of babies with birth defects to a nonprofit fully dedicated to children, health and human rights. Its main aim is to provide support services to children afflicted with congenital defects, critical disorders, syndromes, and diseases that affect their health condition, education and growth.)
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