Diabetes MP warns off Coca-Cola truck

The iconic Coca-Cola truck is not welcome in Leicester during its annual Christmas tour, according to a local MP.

Labour’s Keith Vaz, who has type 2 diabetes, said the promotional tour was a “blatant marketing campaign for high sugar products”.

The large red vehicle, which has become synonymous with Christmas thanks to the famous ‘Holidays are Coming’ advert, was due to arrive in the city on December 17.

MP Keith Vaz has type 2 diabetes

The politician, who is the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Diabetes, told The Diabetes Times: “Opposing the Coca Cola Truck tour is not about being a ‘kill-joy’, it is about questioning what products we want to be advertised to our children associated with Christmas.

“This truck is visiting areas of the country with some of the UK’s highest levels of obesity and diabetes, in a blatant marketing campaign for high sugar products.

“Coca Cola say they will also give out non-sugar drinks, but this is not the ‘Coke Zero Truck’, this is the bright red ‘full sugar truck’ and that is what they want this campaign promotes.”

However, some local residents have reacted angrily to Mr Vaz’s request, venting their frustration on the micro-blogging site Twitter.

A spokesperson for Coca-Cola Great Britain told the newspaper it would still incorporate Leicester as planned as part of its 46 date Christmas tour across the UK.

In a statement, it said: “The Coca-Cola Christmas truck tour provides a moment of fun for the family in the build-up to Christmas and we’ve had a positive response from many people in Leicester to the news that it will stop there this year.

“People will have the opportunity to see the truck up close, have their photograph taken with it and enjoy a small (150ml) can of any of the four Coca-Cola variants we make, which include Diet Coke and Coca-Cola Zero, our no-sugar options.

“We have a policy not to market our products to under-12s, and will therefore not be providing drinks to under-12s unless their parent or guardian is happy for us to do so.”