Big Soda is feeling the Bern, but not in the way they might have hoped. Senator Sanders said today he has sent a cease-and-desist letter to Big Soda to stop using his likeness in its deceptive ads to fight sugary drink tax measures.  In a statement to Politico he said:

"Advertising from the American Beverage Association that implies that I oppose ballot items in San Francisco and Oakland that would place a tax on drinks with sugar are false. I have not taken any position on those ballot items, and I have asked the American Beverage Association to stop using my name in connection with this misleading advertising."

(Photo Credit: Ninjas for Health)

He went on to say, "Excessive sugar consumption is a serious health problem for children and all of us. It can lead to obesity, diabetes and other serious illnesses. Every community in our country will determine how best to address this major health crisis.”

Big Soda isn’t backing down though and basically replied with the excuse that “everyone else does it”:

"It is quite common for a public figure to be used in issue and political advertising," the American Beverage Association, which represents corporations like Coca-Cola and Pepsi, said in a statement.

As I told Politico, "Bernie Sanders speaks for himself and not for the big soda companies like Coke and Pepsi. We would say we’re surprised they had the chutzpah to appropriate his image in that way, but as they get more desperate, nothing much surprises us anymore.”

We’re glad to see Bernie speaking out against the health harms of sugar and taking on Big Soda for its deceptive campaign tactics. We welcome him (and everyone else) to join the movement to bring sugar back to healthy levels!