A CHRISTMAS AD for Coca-Cola Mexico has been criticised for its depiction of young people delivering Coke bottles to a community of indigenous people.
Consumer rights and health groups have called on the Mexican government to ban the ad, which shows a truckload of white people excitedly hauling Coke bottles into remote hills and building a Christmas tree with Coca-Cola lights.
The Mexican Alliance for Food Health said it would formally ask authorities to block the ad, describing it as an attack on the dignity of indigenous people.
The alliance, a coalition of consumer rights and health groups, said the campaign also contributes to the deteriorating health of Mexico’s indigenous communities, which have high rates of obesity and diabetes.
The ad has been taken down from Coca-Cola’s official YouTube channel, but it has since been reposted elsewhere.
In the commercial, the company says the campaign is meant to “break down prejudice”.
“This Christmas a group of young people decided to give something very special to the indigenous community of Totontepec (Villa) de Morelos in Oaxaca. You, too, open your heart,” it says.
The ad and its hashtag #AbreTuCorazon (#OpenYourHeart in Spanish) have also been criticised online.
Coca-Cola has been asked for comment.
With Associated Press
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