By Lindsey Tanner
The Associated Press

Coca-Cola Co. is giving a $1 million grant to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry in a deal critics say conflicts with the group's efforts to fight tooth decay.

Dr. David Curtis, president of the organization, said Tuesday that the grant will support research and that Coca-Cola will not be able to dictate the kind of research or its outcome.

"The relationship we develop with the Coca-Cola foundation and the tremendous reach they have with the consumer will help us to deliver our messages," Curtis said.

The deal was criticized by some health experts because of evidence connecting excessive consumption of soft drinks to children's cavities.

"It is astonishing and outrageous that the AAPD would enter into a partnership with the world's biggest producer of soft drinks," said Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group. "The Coca-Cola company has effectively bought a health professionals organization for a million bucks."

It is a conflict of interest, said Dr. Jonathan Shenkin, a dentistry resident at the University of Iowa. Shenkin led research published in January suggesting that the sugar and acidic content in soft drinks wear down tooth enamel.

Curtis, however, said the scientific evidence "is certainly not clear on exactly the role that soft drinks play in terms of children's oral disease.

"One of the hallmarks of our academy is to urge parents to make wise nutritional choices. We will continue to espouse good overall nutrition."