Cola-Cola has published a list of 34 Australian institutions that were given a share of $1.7 million in research funding over the past five years.

The soft drink giant has been accused of targeting funding for academic studies and health programs towards exercise over diet, to distract attention from its the massive detrimental health effects of its products.

Recent reports in the New York Times revealed the campaign to focus the discussion about obesity on exercise as the solution to the health epidemic.

Coca-Cola made a pledge to publish all financing of health groups and research around the world in the wake of the revelations.

It then put up details of $US21.8 million ($AU30.5 million) in research funding and $US96.8 million it spent on “health and wellbeing partnerships” in the United States.

Two weeks later, it published a list of 34 Australian organisations receiving money, including the University of Sydney, Nutrition Society of Australia, Ted Noffs Foundation, Bicycle Network, Sports Medicine Australia, University of Queensland, David Wirrpanda Foundation, police citizen youth clubs, Australian Paralympic Committee and the Australian Circus and Physical Theatre Association.

The list was compiled according to a strict list of criteria, and so does not include funding avenues not directly related to health, such as donations to Indigenous organisations, including the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience, or to environmental organisations like WWF and Landcare, all of which receive funding from Coke.

Various groups have moved to defend themselves in the light of media scrutiny. 

The company has been largely silent since the disclosure, but president of Coca-Cola South Pacific, Roberto Mercade, told Fairfax Media reporters: “The vast majority of the funding in Australia goes to ... support charities, the public sector and not-for-profit organisations.”

“We are proud of the programs we have supported – the majority of which are community and grassroots programs.”