Health battle over soda flares up in Mexico

The public-health battle over sugary soft drinks, punctuated by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's failed attempt to ban big sodas, has spread to Mexico, long a stronghold of Coca-Cola.

But the showdown could have big implications for Coca-Cola and other soft-drink makers, since Mexico is second only to the U.S. in per capita soda intake, according to Euromonitor International.

Last year, Latin America, anchored by Mexico, where Coca-Cola's biggest independent bottler is based, was Coke's second-most-profitable region, after Europe.

Source: The Wall Street Journal