Coke, McDonald’s slam New York City bid to ban big soda cups

Coca-Cola Co and McDonald’s Corp slammed Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s proposed ban on large soft drinks in New York City, arguing for freedom of choice and saying it would not effectively curb obesity.

“New Yorkers expect and deserve better than this. They can make their own choices about the beverages they purchase,” Coca-Cola said in a statement on Thursday.

The world’s largest soft-drink maker, which would be most affected by the ban, said it already puts calorie counts on the front of its bottles and cans and noted that restaurants post calorie content for all their offerings, including soft drinks.

Bloomberg’s assault on super-sized sodas opened a new front in the battle over how local governments regulate in the name of health what people eat and drink.

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