Beyonce Cautioned to Back Out of Pepsi Deal By Health Organization
Beyonce Knowles recently announced a $50 million deal with Pepsi to appear on a limited edition set of Pepsi cans but some health advocates are cautioning her against it.
While Knowles' deal with Pepsi will enable the Grammy Award-winning singer to star in a new television advertisement for the brand and perform at the "Pepsi Halftime Show" along with featuring her likeness on some cans, the Center for Science in Public Interest says that the singer is also promoting an unhealthy lifestyle. According to the CSIP, if people consume one pepsi can per day the likelihood of children becoming obese is increased by 60 percent, while men increase their risk for heart disease by 19 percent.
Two pepsi drinks per day could increase an individual's risk for type 2 diabetes by 25 percent, according to the CSPI.
Michael F Jacobson, CSPI executive director, wrote directly to Knowles on the organization's website in an attempt to get her to back out of her Pepsi deal in order to promote a healthy lifestyle.
"You occupy a unique position in the cultural life of this country and are an inspiring role model for millions of young people," Jacobson wrote to the singer. "Your image is one of success, health, talent, fitness, and glamour. But by lending your name and image to PepsiCo, you are associating those positive attributes with a product that is quite literally sickening Americans."
In a statement obtained by the New York Times, Knowles explained why she felt the need to work with Pepsi.
"Pepsi embraces creativity and understands that artists evolve," Knowles said in the statement. "As a businesswoman, this allows me to work with a lifestyle brand with no compromise and without sacrificing my creativity."
If Knowles does decide to continue with her multi-million dollar Pepsi deal, CSPI has suggested on its website that she donate proceeds to a hospital, diabetes organization, or another charity that is involved with soda-related illnesses.
