IT IS the iconic symbol of Christmas but its tour across the country has come under fire for contributing to obesity.

Public health experts have said that the Coca-Cola Christmas truck tour, which visited Southampton last month, should be banned because of the harm sugary drinks can cause to children’s diets – this week it was revealed that more than a third of ten and 11 year-olds in the city were obese.

Robin Ireland, director of Food Active, a campaign group set up tackle rising obesity levels and John Ashton, a public health consultant in Liverpool, writing in the British Medical Journal (BMJ), said: “Should this form of advertising and marketing be banned, given the growing evidence of the effect that marketing of unhealthy food and drink has on children? We believe it should.”

The red and white lorry’s visit attracted hundreds of people Southampton city centre before Christmas but experts considered it as dangerous for people’s health.

Stewart Dunn, chief executive of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “There are growing concerns regarding children obesity and steps must be taken but stopping people from the Coca Cola truck tour would have a little effect. It’s a long process of education that need to start in schools and families. We don’t wish the Coca Cola truck to stop to come to Southampton because it has brought visitors, shopping and enjoyment to people around Christmas time and it has been associated to Christmas for years.”

Cllr Satvir Kaur, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Leisure at Southampton City Council, said: “I don’t think that having a truck in town for one afternoon will have a massive effect on statistics. The Coca Cola truck in town has had benefit on the economy but it also brought people together and contributed to the enjoyment of Christmas. People were queuing to take a picture with an iconic symbol of Christmas.”

Cllr Kaur highlighted the need of a wider strategy to tackle obesity.

A spokesperson for Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: “We had a really positive response from consumers to last year’s Christmas truck tour. As part of the experience people could enjoy a small 150ml can of Coca-Cola Classic or one of our two no sugar options - Diet Coke or Coca-Cola Zero Sugar.

“We we do not provide drinks to under 12s unless their parent or guardian is present and happy for us to do so. We will continue to take actions to help people to reduce the sugar they consume from our range of drinks, but the evidence suggests the current focus on sugar and soft drinks alone will not address the problem.”