On March 7, the CAFP Congress of Delegates adopted a resolution for submission to the American Academy asking that it rescind its contract with The Coca Cola Company and refrain from affiliating through its corporate alliance program with other companies whose products are detrimental to patient health.

Look at the following 3 pages from familydoctor.org: (1) http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/food/general-nutrition/1013.html (2) http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/food/general-nutrition/1006.html and (3) http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/healthy/food/general-nutrition/1005.html Notice that there is a big banner ad right at the top of these pages on nutrition, sugar and sugar substitues for COCA COLA and a link to their pseudo-science information by the company. This is the biggest nonsense by AAFP and I believe that CAFP should denounce AAFP for this marketing move - it looks like the content is not too bad but the banner ads with a link to Coke web pages is the bigger problem.

Dr. Brandt,

We are not privy to the grant amount AAFP received from The Coca Cola Company when it joined the Consumer Alliance in support of AAFP’s www.familydoctor.org patient-facing Web site, but CAFP did offer $100,000 from our emergency funds within reserves to help offset some of the revenue loss AAFP would have incurred had it, as we requested, rescinded its contract with Coke. This amounted to about $20 per Active member, a sum the Board felt was reasonable and could be considered by other state academies to help restore AAFP’s credibility on the obesity issue. CAFP’s Congress of Delegates will be considering a resolution for submission to AAFP on the subject of rescinding the contract with Coke in early March. I was distressed to see a billboard a block from Academy headquarters that that had a photo of a family (one of whom looks a little bit overweight) embedded in two massive bottles of Coke with the words “NEW – Twin Pack – Enough for Your Meal!” – the bottles were 50 oz. Cokes. At 13 calories or so an ounce, a “family” could take in 1300 calories from 100 oz. of Coke at dinner. Conversely, yesterday’s New York Times had a full-page ad from Coke about responsible use of its product. Perhaps the public affairs department and the marketing department need to talk?

The people who urge tolerance are just not getting it. Are there no other corporations or foundations in the country that have the power and money of Coke? That would be a sad statement. Taco Bell and soda companies are sponsoring our high school sports teams. That is not a small thing either. I also would like to know the price of this ethical faux pas. How much are they giving to the AAFP? (I refrain from saying "giviing us".) An occasional soda is not the point. How often do you stand behind families with small children at Costco buying CASES of soda?

Ms. Velo, as you know, CAFP shares your opinion and we are doing everything we can to change the AAFP policy. We’ll appreciate your support in that process.

Susan Hogeland, CAE
Executive Vice President

This policy needs to be changed, this is embarrassing. Family Medicine needs to take the lead on this and no amount of money from Coca-Cola or similarly egregious companies should be accepted. I am embarrassed as a member, and medical student for the leadership blunder by AAFP on this critical issue affecting our patients.

I remain furious and outraged about the AAFP’s decision to contract with Coca-Cola, Inc. in some sort of educational partnership.

The Academy's response to the CAFP's letter of concern is unconvincing. It remains simply unconceivable to me how the goals and mission of the Academy can possibly be aligned with a corporation whose products contribute only to disease. At best, some of Coke’s products have no effect on health (e.g., vitamin waters) but the bulk of Coke’s industrial output is medically harmful. Globally, the products of Coca-Cola, Inc. have undoubtedly contributed to the premature death of thousands. So, other than financial gain, what interest could the AAFP possibly have in a strategic partnership with Coke? If Coca-Cola, why not Philip Morris?

Even if these questions had sound and compelling answers (I don’t believe they do), the AAFP should have declined Coke’s offer. A sterling reputation is crucial for the AAFP to fulfill its long-term mission of promoting family medicine in the U.S. Now this reputation has been seriously tarnished.

The AAFP should look into legal means of abrogating the contract, and if impossible, counsel should be sought about how best to fulfill the contract while minimizing further damage to our credibility as spokespersons in the interest of public health. I also believe that the AAFP board members who were primarily responsible for the contract should resign.

As a physician practicing in Nevada, I'm happy to see the CAFP taking a strong stance against a de facto merger between professional and corporate interests.

On discussing this matter with another AAFP member, I was heatedly reminded that the AAFP requires outside sources of revenue. Further, he pointed out that the Coca-Cola corporation was also responsible for Minute Maid orange juice and other "healthy" products.

I retorted that corporate giant Phillip-Morris once owned Post Grape Nuts. Surely they make other "healthful" products that could form the basis of an even larger corporate payoff to the AAFP.

This is only the latest AAFP flirtation with corporate support. A quick search will reveal that it has also received funding from Pepsico and McDonald's in support of its "Americans in Motion" program. When I mention this to patients, the typical response has been a shocked "How can they do that?"

So much for maintaining an image of professional objectivity.

(... a pity, really. I was very close to fulfilling my requirements for the FAAFP degree. My membership expires at the end of the year. Now they'll have to get by without my application fee or my dues.)

One of the most embarrassing moments in my career as a family physician occured when my adult son said AAFP has become completely hypocritical due to its sponsorship agreement with Coca Cola. I am almost unsure about continuing to use familydoctor.org as uninfluenced source of accurate patient information. This and any similar contracts past and future that involve other than blind contributions are dances with the devil that we cannot win-corporations spend their inheritance begging for free good press like this let alone the ability to influence hard ideas. I feel like over 30 years of hoping for a better opinion of Family Physicians has been frittered away in the blink of inking this contract. Then to have our national leaders try to justify it with "you don't understand the real deal" is another blow to the transparency we need. I am tired of trying to explain what and why Family Physicians are not GPs or chiropracters or PAs or NPs-somehow AAFp missed the big picture and left us where we were 50 years ago lacking real standing in the rest of the medical community.

Dear AAFP, How disappointing that as a representative of family physicians you have adopted a policy to partner with TCCC whose products are well known to be a contributing factor towards the obesity epidemic. I strongly request that this policy be revised. AAFP's memorandum stating that this decision is in accordance with AAFP Board policy without an evidence based reason is very unscientific as well as poor judgement. After all it is familydoctor.org NOT familydoctor.com. Sincerely, Tahir Yaqub, MD

It is always our hope that a single issue is not the determining factor in a member’s determination to join or remain a member of AAFP, CAFP and the local chapter. CAFP and your local chapter are unified in membership with the AAFP – if you decide not to renew with one, you decide not to renew with all. We believe CAFP does very good anti-obesity/nutrition work – getting sodas out of the schools, transfats out of food, nutrition labeling on menus, and more – and AAFP does remarkable work on your behalf and your patients’ as well. Please don’t let one disagreement color your view of that good work. We are working through the system to change the policy, and we need your support now more than ever.

I used to be a proud member of the AAFP. Now I am embarrased and ashamed, and plan to withold future renewal of my membership if this contract is not reversed.

i spend my days teaching about nutrition and exercise and the aafp is joining forces with one of the companies which sells products which I discourage my patients from consuming. In general who you receive your funding from controls your activites and content- AAFP and coca cola should not join forces in any setting .Donna Holscher

I hope he rides it to the top. He's a nice guy. But everyone please just admit that the average healthy person can have a Coke now and then without destroying themselves. Take a reality check.

As a Family Physician, I find it egregious for the AAFP to partner with Coca Cola (or McDonald's or Pepsico, etc) for their Patient Education materials or other things. It goes against our very mission to care for patients. Many people state that we "need the financial support" of these rich companies. No. There are other places to look - Gates Foundation, etc. These big corporations have all that money because Americans are addicted to their JUNK FOOD. And I take care of the amputees who lose their toes to diabetes or the 27 year olds who are so obese they need a tracheostomy to breathe! Outrageous.

I support the CAFP's efforts to urge the AAFP rescind the alliance with Coca-cola. This partnership undermines my goals to reduce obesity and unhealthy choices among my patients.

I'm part of a family physician group that developed obesity camps for girls struggling with their weight, developed corporate wellness programs and give more than 60 lectures a year realted to healthy living and wellness. The key for us to being able to accomplish this is not government grants, but partnerships with business that have an interest in being affiliated with healthy living. I applaud the AAFP for having the savvy to build corporate partnerships that support the efforts of family docs. Many of the best wellness efforts implode due to lack of funding and team building. Please don't blast Coca-Cola who has been willing to financially partner with the AAFP. Let's build bridges, partnerships and allies. This is a key part of the process if America is going to make progress with its struggles with weight. My partners and I worked with girls from all over the world for 5 years in a medically succesfull camp where girls lost on average 25 pounds, had renewed self-esteem and new life direction. Camp California Fitness was featured in the CAFP magazine. Unfortunately, it went bankrupt as it is very expensive to help change a life! It cannot be done without partnerships (we learned the hard way). I wish we could have been develop financial partners like Coca-Cola to offer real world solutions for a difficult problem. Please don't look at this partnership with Coke as a bad thing. Count your blessings, work to build effective relationships, and we will accomplish much more together!

Add my name to the list of members objecting to AAFP and supporting CAFP position.

Then whose dues should I not pay?? It appears the CAFP dues are included and mandatory in my AAFP renewal.

The outgoing student leadership of CAFP, CSAFM, also sent a letter -- which received a personal and totally unsatisfying response from Dr. Heim. We encourage other groups and individuals to hound the AAFP on this egregious misstep.... As well, feel free to join the FB page created by a new member of CAFP (just began fellowship @ UCLA): http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/group.php?gid=155448423986

Kudos to the CAFP for standing up to its parent company and denouncing the Coca Cola contract. What are those guys at the AAFP on, anyhow? Next thing you know they'll be partnering with R.J Reynolds and Coors to promote smoking cessation and underage alcohol abstention. Are we that hard up for cash that we have to do business with the company most responsible for the epidemic of overweight, obesity and diabetes that plagues our nation? No strings attached to the funding for the website? If you believe that you're likely also to believe that high rolling political contributors do not influence legislators. Is it appropriate to ask how much Coke is anteing up to play? I'd like to know the selling out price.

Thanks to the CAFP for its efforts to have AAFP rescind it's relationship with the Coca Cola Company. I've informed Dr. Heim at AAFP that I always advise my overweight and obese patients that soda is poison that is likely to shorten their lifespan. I don't appreciate AAFP undermining my efforts at patient education by aligning itself with companies that market unhealthy products to my patients. Please continue to have AAFP severe its ties with Coca Cola.

How autocratic and bossy can we get? Are we going to have a resolution against baby formula next --- after all it is much healthier for babies to drink breast milk? How about a resolution against sunbathing? When will this judgmental Victorian insanity stop? I did not join FP assoc to belong to a sorority/fraternity with rigid rules.