"[2] According to USA Today's Nanci Hellmich, "Critics say the company is doing damage control to combat the widespread belief that sugary beverages contribute to obesity.

"[1] Anna Lappe was quoted in The Guardian as saying, "This feel-good PR blitz is just another example of the company trying to protect brand goodwill amidst growing public concern about its most profitable products: sodas.

"[6] This led The Atlantic's Ruth Faden to declare that this specific assertion was "inappropriately misleading," as well as claiming that there is "considerable research" linking sugary drinks to obesity.

He also stated that "Consuming sugary drinks increases the risk of obesity more than any other food that we know of, based on recent research (by which he means a September 2012 study in the NEJM)[9] An opinion piece in the New York Daily News countered the commercial's argument that "our industry [Big Soda] has voluntarily changed its offerings [in schools] to primarily waters, juices, and low- and no-calorie options."

[10] Pendergrast also argued that most of the actions Coke bragged about in the commercial were actually more profit-driven than anything else; for instance, the smaller size cans allow them to make more money because the price per ounce is higher.

In contrast to the criticism detailed above, the Coca-Cola Company's efforts to maintain sales growth and stock value in the face of the obesity epidemic were commended by Richard Saintvillus of TheStreet.com.